Camp Update: 3-2-1
Jim Comparoni | Editor
EAST LANSING - Three things I learned on Wednesday, two questions, one prediction:
Three things I learned:
1. With the depth that Michigan State has at most positions, Mark Dantonio said the coaches have been able to put the Spartans through more team-oriented drills than is usually the case for the first week of camp.
“We have numbers out here, so we’ve been able to get a lot of team work done,” Dantonio said. “For us, it’s always been about how you’re doing things. Do they retain offenses and defenses, and how to get from drill to drill? Do they retain the ability to move in and out of different situations on the field. And we’re trying to work them all.
“We worked goal line today, we worked third down today, we worked third-and-short today, we worked base stuff today, so we’re trying to hit it all. We worked two-minute on the first day of camp. That’s unusual. But our players have a good grasp of things and we force the issue with them and that’s how we’ve been able to do it here.
2. True freshman Kenney Lyke had the most memorable play during Wednesday’s practice. Mike Panasiuk and Cam Chambers both commented on Lyke’s hard hit on a WR Darrell Stewart.
3. True freshman Naquan Jones is finally on the practice field after missing a few days while qualification questions were ironed out. Because Jones missed earlier practices, he was in a helmet and no shoulder pads on Wednesday. He will move to shells later in the week. It’s unclear whether he will be able to get on the field for this weekend’s Jersey Scrimmage.
Graduate transfer Kevin Williams practiced in shells (no leg pads) on Wednesday due to missing a practice earlier in the week. But Dantonio has liked what he has seen so far from the former Nebraska Cornhusker.
When asked about grad transfers Williams and defensive end Gabe Sherrod, formerly of Delaware State, Dantonio said Williams is “Explosive, powerful. He has good technique. I think he’s going to play for us. I was impressed with him.
“Gabe, a little too early to see. He looks athletic. We have numbers, so we have to get guys reps. Really until we get to Saturday and see how they play in game situations the best we can, I guess you wait and see.”
Naquan Jones made his first appearance on the practice field as a Spartan, Wednesday, in a helmet and shorts.
Two Questions:
1. It’s becoming clear that true freshman Mike Panasiuk, a former four-star recruit, is a strong bet to earn playing time this fall. Not only is he physically strong for a rookie, he also plays with good technique for a freshman and he plays a position of need for the Spartans.
With that being said, which of the other freshman d-linemen are going to see the field this fall? Jones, a four-star recruit, is just getting started. Four-star defensive end prospect Josh King is strong and lean, maybe a bit stiff for a rush-end role, but physically strong enough to possibly help as a boundary DE against the run. Four-star DE Auston Robertson isn’t lacking in size and has excellent agility.
Coaches are still waiting to see how things sort themselves out on the d-line. Michigan State finished the spring with Malik McDowell and Raequan Williams looking good as first-string DTs, Demetrius Cooper (five sacks last year) at field DE, and fifth-year senior Evan Jones an upstart at boundary DE. Behind those first-stringers, things get murky.
Walk-on Dillon Alexander finished the spring as a second-string boundary DE. King is expected to push for time there. Robert Bowers and Justice Alexander are a pair of unproven underclassmen at d-end. Bowers is more of a field end. Alexander has the versatility to compete at boundary DE. Mufi Hunt is a bit of a question mark whose weight has fluctuated since he arrived. He has a few days here in August to try to turn heads.
“It’s too early to tell but I think our young players on our defensive front look impressive,” Dantonio said. “Stature-wise, they are very impressive, and they work. When you work and you have those God-given abilities, usually good things follow.”
The Spartans need redshirt freshman Raequan Williams to build upon his excellent spring at defensive tackle.
2. Michigan State has a deep pool of talent at WR, including four terrific incoming freshmen. So which of those freshman WRs are going to redshirt? Donnie Corley is going to play this fall - and play a lot. We’ve known that since the spring.
In April, Dantonio indicated that true freshman Cam Chambers was also likely to get in the playing group. But that was before Trishton Jackson and Justin Layne reported this fall. Jackson is playing to reviews that rival those of Corley from the spring.
“He reminds me a lot of Keshawn Martin,” Dantonio said of Jackson. “I think it’s because he was a quarterback (like Martin). He played some wide out, but he had to know a lot of pass concepts and had to have a pretty good feel for an overall offense and I think that helps a young player when they transition to college. He is doing a nice job.”
Michigan State lost Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings to graduation. They were two of MSU’s top three pass catchers in 2015, with 125 combined receptions.
Senior R.J. Shelton is back as a versatile threat (43 catches). Corley, senior Monty Madaris, sophomore Felton Davis, redshirt-freshman Darrell Stewart and walk-onBrandon Sowards are all capable of helping. But are they more capable than Jackson, Chambers and Layne? That’s what the coaches are trying to figure out - and they’ll get a good dose of data during Saturday’s Jersey Scrimmage.
Dantonio said Corley and Chambers are displaying a lot of retention from spring practice. Chambers had a deep catch against Kaleel Gaines during drills on Wednesday, and also hauled in a back-shoulder fade in the corner of the end zone against Demetric Vance, from Tyler O’Connor.
“Those guys make plays,” Dantonio said of Corley and Chambers. “I think they have had a good camp so far. But I think all four of those freshman wide receivers are talented guys; you can see that.”
Chambers said all the right things after practice on Wednesday - that he’s focused on getting better every day and isn’t concerned about the magnitude of his role in 2016, or whether he might redshirt.
True freshman WR Trishton Jackson has been impressive through five days of practice.
One Prediction:
1. Panasiuk is going to break into the two-deep at some point this season. Raequan Williams and Malik McDowell are the unquestioned top two at the DT positions. Panasiuk has repped at nose tackle with the twos this week and has repped at three-technique when working with the all-freshman group.
Panasiuk (6-3, 309, Roselle, Ill.) might be stronger than any true freshman DT of the Dantonio era. He has the strength and physical maturation of a sophomore or junior. That helps. MSU needs that kind of body inside, to help Raequan Williams and McDowell.
Panasiuk’s apparent ability to play the one or three technique could also come in handy as a versatile sub for either position as the Spartans rotate bodies and try to manufacture depth.
“Panasiuk has done some good things so far,” Dantonio said. “He is a powerful guy. He can lock you out.”
Kevin Williams is getting in position to be the No. 3 or 4 DT, if he stays healthy. Injuries riddled his time at Nebraska.
Aside from McDowell, Williams, Williams and Panasiuk, Spartan coaches are also evaluating defensive tackle hopefuls Enoch Smith (6-2, 293, Soph.), Cassius Peat (6-3, 264, R-Fr.), Kyonta Stallworth (6-3, 280, R-Fr.), Gerald Owens (6-2, 299, Soph.) andNaquan Jones (6-4, 320, Fr.).
It’s unclear at this time who might be Panasiuk’s stiffest competition to become the No. 4 DT. Stallworth had some good moments in the spring soon after moving from o-line to d-line. Smith saw some mop-up duty last fall, but missed most of the spring with a hand injury. He needs a good August camp to stay ahead of the two talented true freshmen.
Jim Comparoni | Editor
EAST LANSING - Three things I learned on Wednesday, two questions, one prediction:
Three things I learned:
1. With the depth that Michigan State has at most positions, Mark Dantonio said the coaches have been able to put the Spartans through more team-oriented drills than is usually the case for the first week of camp.
“We have numbers out here, so we’ve been able to get a lot of team work done,” Dantonio said. “For us, it’s always been about how you’re doing things. Do they retain offenses and defenses, and how to get from drill to drill? Do they retain the ability to move in and out of different situations on the field. And we’re trying to work them all.
“We worked goal line today, we worked third down today, we worked third-and-short today, we worked base stuff today, so we’re trying to hit it all. We worked two-minute on the first day of camp. That’s unusual. But our players have a good grasp of things and we force the issue with them and that’s how we’ve been able to do it here.
2. True freshman Kenney Lyke had the most memorable play during Wednesday’s practice. Mike Panasiuk and Cam Chambers both commented on Lyke’s hard hit on a WR Darrell Stewart.
3. True freshman Naquan Jones is finally on the practice field after missing a few days while qualification questions were ironed out. Because Jones missed earlier practices, he was in a helmet and no shoulder pads on Wednesday. He will move to shells later in the week. It’s unclear whether he will be able to get on the field for this weekend’s Jersey Scrimmage.
Graduate transfer Kevin Williams practiced in shells (no leg pads) on Wednesday due to missing a practice earlier in the week. But Dantonio has liked what he has seen so far from the former Nebraska Cornhusker.
When asked about grad transfers Williams and defensive end Gabe Sherrod, formerly of Delaware State, Dantonio said Williams is “Explosive, powerful. He has good technique. I think he’s going to play for us. I was impressed with him.
“Gabe, a little too early to see. He looks athletic. We have numbers, so we have to get guys reps. Really until we get to Saturday and see how they play in game situations the best we can, I guess you wait and see.”
Naquan Jones made his first appearance on the practice field as a Spartan, Wednesday, in a helmet and shorts.
Two Questions:
1. It’s becoming clear that true freshman Mike Panasiuk, a former four-star recruit, is a strong bet to earn playing time this fall. Not only is he physically strong for a rookie, he also plays with good technique for a freshman and he plays a position of need for the Spartans.
With that being said, which of the other freshman d-linemen are going to see the field this fall? Jones, a four-star recruit, is just getting started. Four-star defensive end prospect Josh King is strong and lean, maybe a bit stiff for a rush-end role, but physically strong enough to possibly help as a boundary DE against the run. Four-star DE Auston Robertson isn’t lacking in size and has excellent agility.
Coaches are still waiting to see how things sort themselves out on the d-line. Michigan State finished the spring with Malik McDowell and Raequan Williams looking good as first-string DTs, Demetrius Cooper (five sacks last year) at field DE, and fifth-year senior Evan Jones an upstart at boundary DE. Behind those first-stringers, things get murky.
Walk-on Dillon Alexander finished the spring as a second-string boundary DE. King is expected to push for time there. Robert Bowers and Justice Alexander are a pair of unproven underclassmen at d-end. Bowers is more of a field end. Alexander has the versatility to compete at boundary DE. Mufi Hunt is a bit of a question mark whose weight has fluctuated since he arrived. He has a few days here in August to try to turn heads.
“It’s too early to tell but I think our young players on our defensive front look impressive,” Dantonio said. “Stature-wise, they are very impressive, and they work. When you work and you have those God-given abilities, usually good things follow.”
The Spartans need redshirt freshman Raequan Williams to build upon his excellent spring at defensive tackle.
2. Michigan State has a deep pool of talent at WR, including four terrific incoming freshmen. So which of those freshman WRs are going to redshirt? Donnie Corley is going to play this fall - and play a lot. We’ve known that since the spring.
In April, Dantonio indicated that true freshman Cam Chambers was also likely to get in the playing group. But that was before Trishton Jackson and Justin Layne reported this fall. Jackson is playing to reviews that rival those of Corley from the spring.
“He reminds me a lot of Keshawn Martin,” Dantonio said of Jackson. “I think it’s because he was a quarterback (like Martin). He played some wide out, but he had to know a lot of pass concepts and had to have a pretty good feel for an overall offense and I think that helps a young player when they transition to college. He is doing a nice job.”
Michigan State lost Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings to graduation. They were two of MSU’s top three pass catchers in 2015, with 125 combined receptions.
Senior R.J. Shelton is back as a versatile threat (43 catches). Corley, senior Monty Madaris, sophomore Felton Davis, redshirt-freshman Darrell Stewart and walk-onBrandon Sowards are all capable of helping. But are they more capable than Jackson, Chambers and Layne? That’s what the coaches are trying to figure out - and they’ll get a good dose of data during Saturday’s Jersey Scrimmage.
Dantonio said Corley and Chambers are displaying a lot of retention from spring practice. Chambers had a deep catch against Kaleel Gaines during drills on Wednesday, and also hauled in a back-shoulder fade in the corner of the end zone against Demetric Vance, from Tyler O’Connor.
“Those guys make plays,” Dantonio said of Corley and Chambers. “I think they have had a good camp so far. But I think all four of those freshman wide receivers are talented guys; you can see that.”
Chambers said all the right things after practice on Wednesday - that he’s focused on getting better every day and isn’t concerned about the magnitude of his role in 2016, or whether he might redshirt.
True freshman WR Trishton Jackson has been impressive through five days of practice.
One Prediction:
1. Panasiuk is going to break into the two-deep at some point this season. Raequan Williams and Malik McDowell are the unquestioned top two at the DT positions. Panasiuk has repped at nose tackle with the twos this week and has repped at three-technique when working with the all-freshman group.
Panasiuk (6-3, 309, Roselle, Ill.) might be stronger than any true freshman DT of the Dantonio era. He has the strength and physical maturation of a sophomore or junior. That helps. MSU needs that kind of body inside, to help Raequan Williams and McDowell.
Panasiuk’s apparent ability to play the one or three technique could also come in handy as a versatile sub for either position as the Spartans rotate bodies and try to manufacture depth.
“Panasiuk has done some good things so far,” Dantonio said. “He is a powerful guy. He can lock you out.”
Kevin Williams is getting in position to be the No. 3 or 4 DT, if he stays healthy. Injuries riddled his time at Nebraska.
Aside from McDowell, Williams, Williams and Panasiuk, Spartan coaches are also evaluating defensive tackle hopefuls Enoch Smith (6-2, 293, Soph.), Cassius Peat (6-3, 264, R-Fr.), Kyonta Stallworth (6-3, 280, R-Fr.), Gerald Owens (6-2, 299, Soph.) andNaquan Jones (6-4, 320, Fr.).
It’s unclear at this time who might be Panasiuk’s stiffest competition to become the No. 4 DT. Stallworth had some good moments in the spring soon after moving from o-line to d-line. Smith saw some mop-up duty last fall, but missed most of the spring with a hand injury. He needs a good August camp to stay ahead of the two talented true freshmen.
