Michigan State University Athletics
Senior Sendoff
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 7, 2006
Senior Class Career Statistics in PDF Format
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Michigan State will honor 16 seniors before Saturday's final home game of the season against Minnesota: defensive back Kiel Beltinck, long snapper Brian Bury, offensive lineman Kyle Cook, defensive back Greg Cooper, punter Brandon Fields, linebacker David Herron Jr., linebacker Steve Juarez, kicker Kyle Mayer, wide receiver Kerry Reed, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan, wide receiver Jerramy Scott, defensive tackle David Stanton, quarterback Drew Stanton, wide receiver Matt Trannon, cornerback Demond Williams and offensive lineman Daniel Zynn.
Here's a look back at the careers of this year's senior class:
Kiel Beltinck - DB
Beltinck, a walk-on, made his mark on Spartan special teams during his career. In 2004 and 2005, he finished atop the special teams leaderboard with 154 production points in both seasons. This year, he currently leads the special teams unit with 127 production points. One of Beltinck's highlights arrived in the dramatic win over Notre Dame last season, as he blocked a punt to end the first quarter.
"Kiel's one of those guys that does everything he can," said MSU head coach John L. Smith. "He will be a doctor someday, and will probably be contributing to a lot of good things. He would like to serve in some foreign countries that maybe don't have the things that we have. He's already put in a lot of time traveling and doing those things. Knock on wood that he'll get into med school, but I assume he will. He's a special young man."
Brian Bury - LSN
Bury has been a mainstay on the special teams unit as a long snapper throughout his career. He has appeared in 33 games and has been one of the unit's most consistent players. Bury graduated in May 2005 with a bachelor's degree in food industry management and is currently pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology.
"Brian's a guy that doesn't get a lot of credit, but he's done a great job," said Smith. "He was also forced into doing short-snap duties as well. He will get his master's degree done this semester, and so he'll have a chance to go to the NFL."
Bury Feature Story
Kyle Cook - OL
Cook has been one of the team's most steady and dependable players the past few seasons on the offensive line. Entering Saturday's final home game, he has started 32 straight games, the longest active streak on the team. While spending most of his career at left guard, the co-captain started a majority of games this year at center, providing leadership to a young, inexperienced unit.
"Kyle is a great young man," said Smith. "Last week, we moved Kyle back to guard, which is maybe something we should have done a little bit earlier. He still makes most of the communication checks at the guard spot. He plays all spots on the line and does whatever you ask him to do."
Cook Feature Story
Greg Cooper - CB
Cooper made the transition from free safety to cornerback in his final season with the Green and White. He has started 10 games this season and is seventh on the team with 31 tackles (18 solo, 13 assisted). Cooper has collected 130 tackles and 11 pass break-ups in 43 career games as a Spartan.
"One guy we had to bump up and who was not afforded a redshirt was Greg Cooper," said Smith. "So we bumped him up and he's been playing ever since. He's going to need a fifth year to get everything done, but he goes to class and does everything he's supposed to. It would have been nice if we could have redshirted him, but it's just one of those things where you had to force him into duty."
Cooper Feature Story
Brandon Fields - P
Fields will leave Michigan State as one of the greatest punters in school history. He is currently tied for first in the school record book with a 45.2 punting average, which is also good for second among all active Division I-A punters.
Fields, who earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in May 2006, has been named to the Academic All-Big Ten team three straight years. He led the NCAA in punting in 2004 (47.9 yards), earning him consensus All-America honors.
In 2003, Fields was named a second-team All-American and a Freshman All-American. He was an All-Big Ten first-team pick by the coaches in 2003 and 2004.
"Brandon has already graduated, and he'll get a chance to go on and play at the next level," Smith said. "He's done everything we've asked him to do. You saw last week, we asked him to kick off, we asked him to onside and we asked him to pooch kick. He just goes out and works at it."
Fields Feature Story
 Drew Stanton (left) and Kyle Cook (right).  | |
David Herron Jr. - LB
Herron, a co-captain this season, is one of the team's leaders on defense. The talented linebacker is second on the team with 64 tackles and third with 6.0 tackles for loss. He also leads the team with four forced fumbles.
Herron leads all active Spartans with 226 career tackles and is second with 18 tackles for loss. He recorded a career-high 95 tackles as a sophomore, including eight for loss.
"David will probably get a chance to move on, and I certainly hope he does," Smith said. "He's made a lot of sacrifices for this team. He's grown so much as far as coming out of his shell and becoming a leader."
Herron Feature Story
Steve Juarez - LB
Juarez, a junior college transfer from Los Angeles Harbor College, has played in 21 games in his two seasons for the Green and White. Juarez recorded 13 tackles, including two for loss, as a junior, and has improved his total as a senior, making 16 stops.
"Steve's a kid we brought in late, but he's really taken to heart the academics," Smith said. "He served in the back-up role as a linebacker. He got married over the summer and is a good, good young man."
Kyle Mayer - K
Mayer, a walk-on kicker, saw action in three games in 2005. He scored four points, converting 4-of-5 extra-point attempts, including a 3-of-4 effort in the season opener against Kent State.
"Kyle stayed around and continued to kick for us, and he saw some duty last year," said Smith. "He's a good young man that did everything we asked him to do."
Kerry Reed - WR
Reed has emerged as MSU's top receiver this season. A junior college transfer out of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, Reed passed the 1,000-yard milestone for his career in the Purdue game, catching five passes for 97 yards. He currently has 1,016 receiving yards and 77 catches in 21 games for the Spartans.
Reed was fourth on the team last season with 31 receptions for 438 yards. This year, he leads the team in receptions (46), receiving yards (578) and touchdown catches (4). He is currently fourth in the Big Ten in receptions (4.6 pg.).
"Kerry's done a great job," said Smith. "He's a super young man and has probably been our leading receiver all year."
Reed Feature Story
Clifton Ryan - DL
Ryan, a co-captain the past two seasons, has been a physical presence on the defensive line ever since his arrival at Michigan State. He is one of only eight players in Spartan history to serve as a multi-year captain.
Ryan leads all active Spartans with 19.0 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, and has collected 115 tackles in his 48 games for the Green and White. Ryan registered a career-high 41 tackles as a sophomore, including 7.5 for loss, and has recorded a career-best four sacks this season. He has started 25 straight games entering Saturday, second on the team only to Kyle Cook.
"He's done a great job and will get a chance at the next level," said Smith. "He does whatever we ask him to do and he's a great young man."
Ryan's feature will appear in this week's edition of Spartan SportsZone Magazine for the Minnesota game.
Jerramy Scott - WR
Scott has etched his name in Spartan history by cracking the all-time top 10 MSU receptions list. The Jupiter, Fla., native is tied for fifth in the Spartan record books with 133 career catches and is just outside the top 10 in receiving yards with 1,717. He trails his brother, Gari, by just one catch for fourth place.
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Scott's most productive year arrived as a junior, as he led the team in receptions (49) and receiving yards (722). This season, Scott is third on the team with 26 catches and 339 receiving yards.
"Jerramy has caught a lot (of passes) here," said Smith. "He's on track to graduate and hopefully, he'll get everything done. He hasn't had the senior year he would've liked, but we're looking for him to finish strong."
Scott Feature Story
David Stanton - DT
Stanton has given the Spartans two solid years on the defensive line. A transfer from the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., he recorded 13 tackles, two for loss, in 10 games as a junior. This year, Stanton has earned a starting assignment at defensive tackle the past four games. He has responded with a team-best 7.0 tackles for loss this season.
"David's a great kid who played a lot for us on the d-line," Smith said. "He wants to go back and be a firefighter in the L.A. area, so he will actually start school after he graduates from here."
Stanton Feature Story
Drew Stanton - QB
Few players have impacted the Spartan program like quarterback Drew Stanton. The fifth-year senior is already first in Michigan State history in pass completion percentage (64.1 percent), second in pass completions (541), passing yards (6,513 yards), total offense (8,030 yards) and pass attempts (844), third in passing efficiency rating (138.71) and fifth in touchdown passes (42). His presence can also be felt through his leadership, as he is just one of eight players in Spartan history to serve as a multi-year captain.
Stanton has been named one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually since 1987 to the nation's top senior quarterback. He shared Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after accounting for 331 total yards and three scores in engineering the greatest comeback in NCAA I-A history as Michigan State rallied from a 35-point third quarter deficit for a 41-38 victory at Northwestern. In addition, he was nominated the ESPN/Cingular All-America Player of the Week honors.
Stanton currently ranks among NCAA I-A active career leader in completion percentage (fifth), total offense (ninth) and passing efficiency (14th).
An Academic All-American last season, Stanton graduated in May 2006 with a degree in kinesiology. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection is currently pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology.
"What more can you say about Drew?" said Smith. "He has been the face of the program to a degree since we have gotten here. He's a special individual, and a guy that anybody would be proud of as a son."
Stanton Feature Story
Matt Trannon - WR
Trannon is an explosive receiver who put up impressive numbers in his career despite being hampered by injuries. He set a MSU single-game record with 14 catches and had a career-best 151 receiving yards in the Eastern Michigan game in week two of the season, earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Trannon is second on the team this season with 29 catches and 301 receiving yards. He has also thrown for two touchdowns this season, including a 26-yard scoring toss to Javon Ringer in the first quarter of the Notre Dame game.
Trannon is tied with teammate Jerramy Scott for fifth all-time at MSU with 133 career receptions. In 41 games, Trannon has compiled 1,538 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
"Matt was under the prop rule when he first came in, and was placed in a tough situation," said Smith. "He had to have 75 percent of his classes done to have another year and he did that. Consequently, he will graduate, and I'm proud of him for that."
Trannon's feature will appear in this week's edition of Spartan SportsZone Magazine for the Minnesota game.
Demond Williams - CB
A junior college transfer out of Pima Community College, Williams has started in all of his 21 games as a Spartan the past two seasons. He leads the team this season with seven pass break-ups and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
Williams returned an interception 62 yards for a score against Illinois this season on Homecoming, and last year against Indiana, he returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and also blocked an extra point.
Williams is ninth on the team this fall with 27 tackles; he posted 29 stops in his first season.
"We appreciate everything that Demond has done for us," said Smith. "He's a special young man. He has a great smile and a great attitude, and he'll be a success."
Williams Feature Story
Daniel Zynn - OL
Zynn, a transfer from College of the Canyons, saw action in 11 games as a Spartan before suffering a season-ending injury during the Illinois game on Homecoming. Before his injury, Zynn was beginning to emerge as a presence on the offensive line, as he started at left guard against Notre Dame and Illinois.
"Daniel came in as a d-lineman, but we bumped him over to the offensive side of the ball," said Smith. "He was forced into duty and got an opportunity to play and even start a couple of games for us."
