August 11, 2015
WR Notebook: Transitioning, but still talented
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
EAST LANSING - Michigan State does not have a workhorse receiver like Tony Lippett, who had 65 catches for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. But the Spartans have personnel at wide receiver capable of keeping the Spartans on top as Big Ten's top passing offense.
"Tony and Keith were great players, but we had a lot of guys making plays at wide receiver last year," senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge said. "MacGarrett (Kings) made plays. I made plays. AJ (Troup) made plays. RJ (Shelton) made plays. Other guys can make plays too."
Robert Hendricks
Aaron Burbridge has 80 catches for 918 yards in 37 career games for Michigan State.
Burbridge and Kings have proven themselves as part-time starters over the past three seasons, combining for 156 receptions, 1,816 yards, and seven touchdowns. R.J. Shelton (5-11, 195) is another proven commodity, whose role expanded beyond perimeter running plays as a sophomore in 2014. Seniors AJ Troup, DeAnthony Arnett, and junior Monty Madaristook steps toward regular playing time during spring football. Each is a serious candidate for regular work at wide receiver this season.
"We'll evolve as we go," wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said. "Whoever's hot, that's who you play and that's what we've always done. You get into a rhythm and you're attacking the DB and you are doing well, I am going to want you to stay out there."
Co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner is open to playing five or more wide receivers on a regular basis in 2015.
"It depends on who shows in practice over the next three weeks, that they deserve to be on the field," he said.
Experience and versatility make Burbridge one of the most valuable skill players in the Spartan program, and strong candidate to elevate his play as a senior.
"He knows all of the positions, he can play any wide receiver position, which is great," Warner said. "He can do it without having to think a whole lot. He can go out there and play and that is when a guy can be successful, and let their natural athletic ability take over."
Burbridge caught 29 passes for 358 yards (12.34 avg.) and one touchdown as a junior. He has 80 catches for 918 yards (11.4) and three touchdowns in 37 games over three years as a part-time starter.
Burbridge is still working off rust from a foot injury in April that prevented him from running during the summer.
"He's there, and I'm fired up to see what he can do," Warner said. "He just needs to get to the point now where his conditioning is back
Added Samuel: "He's got to get his receiver legs back, and that part is coming. His hand and eye coordination is still there. I am not worried about him catching the ball. I am not worried about his knowledge. I am more worried that he gets his feet up under him and gets his conditioning back."
Whereas injuries have been an issue for Burbridge, Kings has struggled with accountability. A handful of off-the-field incidents marred a productive 35-game career that includes 76 catches for 942 yards (12.4) and four touchdowns.
Warner and Samuel, however, seem reasonably confident that Kings has turned over a new leaf as a senior.
"It's a day-by-day process," Warner said. "He has to take care of business both on and off the field. I have a lot of confidence in MacGarrett that he is going to continue to take care of business."
Added Samuel: "I think he realizes when he makes a bad decision, it hurts his own family and his football family too. He is making better decisions. He is being more responsible. He is making the choices that would put him in a leadership position. Maybe that was something he wasn't doing before."
If Kings continues on his current path, Samuel expects him to play an even bigger role on offense than he has to this point in his career at Michigan State.
"I want him to be as close to an All-American as he possibly can possibly get to. I think he's got the ball skills. He's got the speed. There is no limitation to how good he can be. Every day he's got to go to work. I have been sending him little motivational things every day to make sure the leadership and the work ethic in practice is where it needs to be and he's responded.
"It's going to be a success story."
'two guys that look the part'
Freshmen Darrell Stewart (6-1, 198) and Felton Davis (6-4, 181) have gotten a lot of work during the first week of training camp.
"Those guys are sort of unknown right now," Warner said. "We want to give them the opportunity to see if they can light it up at all. And if that happens, they'll get more reps and get more opportunities. That is the way it is at every position, and maybe even a little bit more so at wide receiver because we have high expectations for some of those guys and there are some unknowns.
Stewart and Davis have made the most of their opportunities thus far.
"Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there," Dantonio said, "so it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two a days, or in summer camp."
WR Notebook: Transitioning, but still talented
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
EAST LANSING - Michigan State does not have a workhorse receiver like Tony Lippett, who had 65 catches for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. But the Spartans have personnel at wide receiver capable of keeping the Spartans on top as Big Ten's top passing offense.
"Tony and Keith were great players, but we had a lot of guys making plays at wide receiver last year," senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge said. "MacGarrett (Kings) made plays. I made plays. AJ (Troup) made plays. RJ (Shelton) made plays. Other guys can make plays too."
Robert Hendricks
Aaron Burbridge has 80 catches for 918 yards in 37 career games for Michigan State.
Burbridge and Kings have proven themselves as part-time starters over the past three seasons, combining for 156 receptions, 1,816 yards, and seven touchdowns. R.J. Shelton (5-11, 195) is another proven commodity, whose role expanded beyond perimeter running plays as a sophomore in 2014. Seniors AJ Troup, DeAnthony Arnett, and junior Monty Madaristook steps toward regular playing time during spring football. Each is a serious candidate for regular work at wide receiver this season.
"We'll evolve as we go," wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said. "Whoever's hot, that's who you play and that's what we've always done. You get into a rhythm and you're attacking the DB and you are doing well, I am going to want you to stay out there."
Co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner is open to playing five or more wide receivers on a regular basis in 2015.
"It depends on who shows in practice over the next three weeks, that they deserve to be on the field," he said.
Experience and versatility make Burbridge one of the most valuable skill players in the Spartan program, and strong candidate to elevate his play as a senior.
"He knows all of the positions, he can play any wide receiver position, which is great," Warner said. "He can do it without having to think a whole lot. He can go out there and play and that is when a guy can be successful, and let their natural athletic ability take over."
Burbridge caught 29 passes for 358 yards (12.34 avg.) and one touchdown as a junior. He has 80 catches for 918 yards (11.4) and three touchdowns in 37 games over three years as a part-time starter.
Burbridge is still working off rust from a foot injury in April that prevented him from running during the summer.
"He's there, and I'm fired up to see what he can do," Warner said. "He just needs to get to the point now where his conditioning is back
Added Samuel: "He's got to get his receiver legs back, and that part is coming. His hand and eye coordination is still there. I am not worried about him catching the ball. I am not worried about his knowledge. I am more worried that he gets his feet up under him and gets his conditioning back."
Whereas injuries have been an issue for Burbridge, Kings has struggled with accountability. A handful of off-the-field incidents marred a productive 35-game career that includes 76 catches for 942 yards (12.4) and four touchdowns.
Warner and Samuel, however, seem reasonably confident that Kings has turned over a new leaf as a senior.
"It's a day-by-day process," Warner said. "He has to take care of business both on and off the field. I have a lot of confidence in MacGarrett that he is going to continue to take care of business."
Added Samuel: "I think he realizes when he makes a bad decision, it hurts his own family and his football family too. He is making better decisions. He is being more responsible. He is making the choices that would put him in a leadership position. Maybe that was something he wasn't doing before."
If Kings continues on his current path, Samuel expects him to play an even bigger role on offense than he has to this point in his career at Michigan State.
"I want him to be as close to an All-American as he possibly can possibly get to. I think he's got the ball skills. He's got the speed. There is no limitation to how good he can be. Every day he's got to go to work. I have been sending him little motivational things every day to make sure the leadership and the work ethic in practice is where it needs to be and he's responded.
"It's going to be a success story."
'two guys that look the part'
Freshmen Darrell Stewart (6-1, 198) and Felton Davis (6-4, 181) have gotten a lot of work during the first week of training camp.
"Those guys are sort of unknown right now," Warner said. "We want to give them the opportunity to see if they can light it up at all. And if that happens, they'll get more reps and get more opportunities. That is the way it is at every position, and maybe even a little bit more so at wide receiver because we have high expectations for some of those guys and there are some unknowns.
Stewart and Davis have made the most of their opportunities thus far.
"Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there," Dantonio said, "so it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two a days, or in summer camp."
