Mark Dantonio began his press conference talking about three seniors that will return for their sixth year.
In actuality, this aspect does relate to recruiting. If those guys weren't coming back, there might be three more bodies in this recruiting class. But MSU will take the known commodities of Ed Davis, Brandon Clemons and Damon Knox over three extras in the 2016 recruiting class.
"Much like last year when I came in here and I said that some of our biggest recruits were Connor Cook and Shilique Calhoun as they made their decisions," Dantonio said. "It paid dividends."
He indicated that the Spartans will look from dividends from Davis, Clemons and Knox as well.
Clemons and Knox play a position of need.
O-line coach Mark Staten was pleased with the progress Clemons made during bowl practice. Clemons graded out well in the Cotton Bowl and played more snaps than in any game all season.
Davis will join Riley Bullough and Jon Reschke in forming what should be the best linebacking corps in the Big Ten, provided that Davis continue to recover well from August knee surgery.
"Ed Davis is certainly coming back, probably one of our premier linebackers from last year," Dantonio said. "Damon Knox, Brandon Clemons, guys that have played a lot of football here and have started for us. So these three guys are going to form a nucleus really for our class as we move forward here in this next year."
In actuality, this aspect does relate to recruiting. If those guys weren't coming back, there might be three more bodies in this recruiting class. But MSU will take the known commodities of Ed Davis, Brandon Clemons and Damon Knox over three extras in the 2016 recruiting class.
"Much like last year when I came in here and I said that some of our biggest recruits were Connor Cook and Shilique Calhoun as they made their decisions," Dantonio said. "It paid dividends."
He indicated that the Spartans will look from dividends from Davis, Clemons and Knox as well.
Clemons and Knox play a position of need.
O-line coach Mark Staten was pleased with the progress Clemons made during bowl practice. Clemons graded out well in the Cotton Bowl and played more snaps than in any game all season.
Davis will join Riley Bullough and Jon Reschke in forming what should be the best linebacking corps in the Big Ten, provided that Davis continue to recover well from August knee surgery.
"Ed Davis is certainly coming back, probably one of our premier linebackers from last year," Dantonio said. "Damon Knox, Brandon Clemons, guys that have played a lot of football here and have started for us. So these three guys are going to form a nucleus really for our class as we move forward here in this next year."
