Michigan State University Athletics
Veterans Report For Preseason Football Camp
8/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 15, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sixty-seven veteran football players reported to the Michigan State campus Tuesday for physicals as the Spartans prepare to begin two-a-day workouts later this week. The veterans will join 35 first-year players for the team's first combined workouts Thursday at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.
"I'm excited because these guys reported back in great shape and we've improved our team speed across the board," first-year head coach Bobby Williams said. "I'm even more impressed, though, with their attitude. These guys have set some high standards for the upcoming season and it's obvious that they've worked extremely hard during the off-season. This team isn't picked to finish very high in the Big Ten standings but these players are committed to becoming championship contenders. There are a lot of quality teams in the Big Ten but these guys are looking forward to the challenges ahead.
"I really like the way our tri-captains - Renaldo Hill, Shaun Mason and Josh Thornhill - have taken ownership in this team. They are very in tune to what we're trying to accomplish this season. I also must compliment the entire senior class because all of those guys have worked hard over the summer and they're all trying to assume leadership roles."
"Everybody is looking forward to getting back on the practice field," senior cornerback Renaldo Hill said. "The guys are excited about getting back to work. We really can't wait to get today and Wednesday out of the way so we can strap on the helmets and shoulder pads Thursday. And of course, we looking forward to putting the full pads on Sunday so we can really do some hitting.
"The players have reported back to preseason camp in the best shape since I've been here," he said. "I think 80 players stayed around here during the summer and worked out and a lot of the freshmen came in early. There has been a tremendous carryover effect from last year's 10-2 season. We don't have a slogan for the season yet but I'm thinking about a `sequel' because it's usually better than the first one. This football team is hungry."
Coach Williams confirmed Tuesday that two offensive linemen will be sidelined for three-to-four weeks, red-shirt freshman center Brian Ottney (6-6, 302) and junior guard Paul Harker (6-3, 305). Ottney, who is expected to contend for the starting job at center, underwent surgery last month to correct a lateral (left) knee sprain. Harker, who is listed No. 2 on the preseason depth chart at right guard behind veteran Shaun Mason, is recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot.
"Josh Smith (6-4, 284, Jr.) took a lot of snaps at center with the first unit last spring," Williams said. "I also expect to see both (left guard) Dave Sucura and (right guard) Shaun Mason get some work at that position."
Williams also announced Tuesday the addition of Jason Bradley, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker from Sarasota, Fla., to the 2000 roster. Bradley recorded 148 tackles as a senior for Coach LeRoy Ryals at Booker High School. He turned in one of his best performances of the 1999 season against Tampa Jesuit when he registered 17 stops, including five sacks. Rivals.com rated Bradley among the nation's top 40 linebacker prospects last season and he was listed among the state's top 10 linebackers by several scouting services. As a junior, he made 157 tackles. Bradley attended the same high school that has produced current Spartans Cedric Henry (CB, Jr.) and Marcus Waters (WR, So.).
The Spartans have two-a-days scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 17 through Saturday, Aug. 19. Michigan State will conduct its annual Media/Photo and Family Fun Day on Sunday, Aug. 20.
Michigan State, ranked No. 22 in the USA Today/ESPN and No. 25 in the Associated Press preseason polls, opens the 2000 season Saturday, Sept. 9 against Marshall at 12:10 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
