Football Holds Draft to Select Green-White Game Roster

First-team All-Big Ten selection Greg Jones was the No. 1 player drafted for the second straight year at the MSU Spring Football Player Draft.

4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football

April 22, 2009

Draft Coverage | Coach Dantonio Podcast

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sides were chosen for the annual Green-White spring football game with a player draft Wednesday afternoon at the Skandalaris Football Center. The seniors, who were selected earlier by the coaches, drafted the underclassmen position by position until the roster was completed. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar leads the Green coaching staff, while defensive live coach Ted Gill heads the White.

The seniors drafting the Green team were Rocco Cironi, Kendell Davis-Clark, Brandon Denson, Michael Jordan, Brendon Moss, Joel Nitchman, Josh Rouse, Mike Schmeding, Marcus Webb, Ross Weaver and Blair White. The White roster was picked by seniors Trevor Anderson, Adam Decker, Danny Fortener, Andrew Hawken, Ashton Henderson, A.J. Jimmerson, Andrew Pendy, John Stipek, Brett Swenson and Jeremy Ware.

The draft began with the Green selecting junior Greg Jones as the first pick at MIKE linebacker, marking the second straight year Jones was the No. 1 overall pick. The White's first selection was sophomore safety Trenton Robinson.

The quarterback was one of the last positions chosen. Kirk Cousins went first to the Green, while Keith Nichol will play for the White.

"I thought it was interesting that the quarterbacks could be the MVPs and that position was one of the last ones picked," said third-year head coach Mark Dantonio. "I think that's because they're both very, very good players, and they both can lead and make plays. I think the same thing happened with our tailbacks and wide receivers. It's not that there's an absence with those players, it's that a lot of those players made great plays throughout the spring.

"It's pretty balanced when you look at it," Dantonio continued. "I wanted it to be fun for our players. We want to empower our players here and make them part of the process."

The Green-White intrasquad game is on Saturday, April 25 at 1:30 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. Admission is free.

Prior to the spring game, MSU's coaching staff and players will conduct a free youth football clinic (no registration required). Children, ages 8-12, are invited to attend the youth clinic from 10-11:30 a.m. on the grass practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building, located at the corner of Chestnut Road and Shaw Lane. Clinic participants and their parents are requested to enter the practice fields through the gate on Shaw Lane.

The purpose of the clinic is to introduce youngsters to the game by stressing fundamentals. No football gear is required. From 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Coach Dantonio and his players will be available for an autograph session for clinic participants.