Michigan State University Athletics
2010 Outlook: Defense
8/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2010
Michigan State played in its third consecutive bowl game last season, a first for the program since 1995-97, while gaining valuable experience for its younger players in several key positions.
Entering 2010, the Spartans are looking to get back into the upper echelon of the Big Ten standings as the team features an arsenal of fast, dangerous weapons on offense and a deep group of hard-hitting playmakers on defense. The Spartans welcome back 15 starters, including seven on offense, six on defense and two specialists, and have solidified their depth on both sides of the ball.
As MSU gears up for training camp next week, fourth-year head coach Mark Dantonio, who has won the second-most games (22) of any Spartan coach in his first three seasons, takes a position-by-position look at the 2010 Spartan defense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line returns six letterwinners, but is still a relatively young unit full of potential after gaining experience in 2009.
Three of the four starters heading into preseason camp are only sophomores, including defensive tackle Jerel Worthy (6-3, 305, So.), who was named a Freshman All-American last season after ranking second on team with 9.0 tackles for loss (34 yards) and 4.5 sacks (23 yards). Worthy was second among Spartan defensive linemen with 37 tackles and produced one tackle for loss in seven straight games during one stretch. Backing up Worthy is Dan France (6-6, 296, R-Fr.), a redshirt last season who Dantonio cited as having a "tremendous spring." Micajah Reynolds (6-5, 295, R-Fr.), a converted offensive lineman, provides depth on the defensive line.
Alongside Worthy is nose tackle Blake Treadwell (6-3, 277, So.). After sitting out the first four games as a potential redshirt in 2009, Treadwell played in the last nine games of the season and recorded 11 tackles. Kevin Pickelman (6-4, 285, Jr.), who tallied a career-high 20 tackles last year, including five in the Alamo Bowl, also will see significant time at nose tackle. "We're young, but our defensive tackle situation is going to be solid with Worthy and Treadwell," said Dantonio. "Pickelman also gives us needed depth as well."
Colin Neely (6-1, 258, Sr.-5) is the lone senior on the line and will start at one end position. Neely has quietly put together solid numbers in playing every game the past two seasons, including a career-high 24 tackles and 7.0 tackles for loss (36 yards) as a junior. In addition to Neely, Johnathan Strayhorn (6-0, 275, Jr.) has played in 19 games the past two seasons and recorded 13 tackles last year.
 Jerel Worthy returns to the starting lineup after earning Freshman All-America honors last season.  | |
At the rush end, Dantonio is looking for sophomore Tyler Hoover (6-7, 260) to have a breakout season after showing promise in his first year of seeing action. Hoover appeared in every game last season, including a season-best performance in the Alamo Bowl with three tackles and a pass break-up against Texas Tech.
"Tyler Hoover needs to come into his own this fall, he's playing an important position," Dantonio said. "We need him to play at a high level. After playing last year, I think his confidence is high. Colin Neely played well last year and should continue to be consistent for us."
Other candidates for playing time at defensive end include Todd Anderson (6-2, 242, Jr.), Denzel Drone (6-2, 250, R-Fr.) and Corey Freeman (6-2, 240, So.).
LINEBACKERS
Led by consensus first-team All-American Greg Jones (6-1, 235, Sr.) and three-year starter Eric Gordon (6-0, 232, Sr.-5), the strength of the Spartan defense is undoubtedly its linebackers.
During his first two seasons at Michigan State, Jones had already established himself as one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten. He garnered Freshman All-America accolades in 2007 and was a first-team all-conference selection in 2008. But in 2009, Jones elevated his game to a level that placed him among the nation's elite. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native led the Big Ten and ranked third in the NCAA FBS with 154 tackles, which ranked seventh most in an MSU season. He also ranked fifth in the league with nine sacks (53 yards) and 10th with 14 tackles for loss (69 yards). Perhaps Jones' most impressive trait was his consistency, as he compiled double-figures in tackles in nine games.
Those remarkable numbers landed Jones on the consensus All-America first team and made him the first Spartan to be named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He also was named first-team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year, and CollegeFootballNews.com listed Jones as the No. 1 linebacker in the nation and the top overall player in the Big Ten. In addition, Jones was selected as the recipient of the Linebacker Trophy (National Linebacker of the Year) by the College Football Performance Awards.
Named to the preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Lombardi Award and the Nagurski Award, Jones has started 33 of 39 career games, including 27 consecutive starting assignments. He has 359 career tackles, including 36.5 for losses (140 yards) and 15.5 sacks (87 yards). Jones will enter the 2010 season ranked second among NCAA FBS active leaders in tackles per game (9.2 avg.) and total tackles (359). He already ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (fifth), sacks (tied for sixth) and total tackles (eighth). In addition, he has produced double-figure tackles 18 times in his career.
"Our linebacking corps is obviously a position of depth for us," remarked Dantonio. "When you have a guy like Greg Jones who decides to return, a returning captain and first-team All-American, not only is he a great player but he has the players' respect as well. I think that speaks volumes about our program that he would come back. He would have been a high draft pick and to pass on those things shows that he values education, which is an example to all of our players. By staying, he has earned a lot of credibility with our players and our staff. He's the nucleus of our football team defensively.
"That being said, we certainly have a lot of talent around him, featuring three more guys who have starting experience. Eric Gordon returns for his fourth year as a starter. Those two have been alongside each other every step of their careers."
 Eric Gordon will be in his fourth season as a starting outside linebacker in 2010. | |
Gordon also has started 27 straight games at linebacker and has been consistent every year, collecting 239 tackles, including 22.5 for losses (88 yards) and 7.5 sacks (55 yards), in 38 career games. He had a career-high 92 tackles as a junior, ranking 16th in the Big Ten, to go along with 7.5 tackles for loss (39 yards) and 3.5 sacks (32 yards).
In addition to Gordon at sam (strong side) linebacker, Jon Misch (6-3, 207, Sr.-5) is a veteran who has compiled 50 tackles in 32 career games, including a career-high 28 stops last season.
Sophomore Chris Norman (6-1, 220, So.) is the projected starter at the star (weak side) linebacker position. Norman played in every game last season as a true freshman, including a start at Notre Dame, and recorded 11 tackles. With one season under his belt, the coaching staff expects Norman to make significant progress this fall. Providing backup behind Norman will be Denicos Allen (5-10, 212), a promising red-shirt freshman who made the transition from safety to linebacker during spring practice. Allen capped his strong spring season by tallying seven tackles, including 2.5 for loss (16 yards) and two sacks (15 yards), in the Green-White game.
"Both Chris and Denicos had outstanding springs," said Dantonio. "Chris played a lot last year and started at Notre Dame, which was by design, because I felt like he needed that experience. He's added weight this year and is still very athletic. Denicos has really improved and is very powerful."
The deep talent pool at linebacker extends past the starters, as several underclassmen will compete for playing time in the rotation. Steve Gardiner (6-1, 222, So.), TyQuan Hammock (6-0, 255, R-Fr.) and Jeremy Gainer (6-1, 225, R-Fr.) could all see the field in 2010, while two heralded freshmen in Max Bullough (6-3, 235) and William Gholston (6-7, 250) also will contribute. Both Bullough and Gholston were high school All-Americans who were ranked among the top five nationally at their respective position by various recruiting services.
"The linebackers will be a fun position to watch," said Dantonio. "We have quite a few guys with experience, and we also have some real talented young players. Max had an exciting spring and he's going to be a great player for us, and we have to find a place to get William on the field somewhere. He's a talented player that's sure to make an impact."
SECONDARY
Michigan State lost five letterwinners in the secondary from last year's team but figures to have a strong unit anchored by underclassmen this season.
Veteran Chris L. Rucker (6-2, 200, Sr.), who has started in 23 games his first three seasons, will line up as the boundary corner. Rucker earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year in 2009 after recording a career-high 58 tackles and leading the team with seven pass break-ups.
"We feel very good about Chris L. Rucker," Dantonio said. "He's fluid, fast and a very athletic player. He's going to have a great fall for us. He's come up with some picks for us in the past and definitely has that ability."
 Chris L. Rucker led the Spartans with seven pass break-ups in 2009. | |
At field corner, Johnny Adams (5-11, 170, R-So.) returns for his second year of action. Adams made an immediate impact his freshman season in 2008, appearing in 12 games with starts against Iowa and Purdue. He tied for second on the team with two interceptions, including a 40-yard return for a touchdown against Purdue, while tallying 21 tackles and four pass break-ups. Adams played in the first two games of 2009 but then missed the majority of the season with a shoulder injury. "Johnny Adams had a phenomenal freshman year, so we're excited to have him back," Dantonio said. "He's going to be a very good player."
Mitchell White (6-1, 170, So.), who played in the final four games of last season, and Dana Dixon (6-2, 173, R-Fr.) also will see action at corner.
Two players with starting experience also return at safety. Fifth-year senior Marcus Hyde (6-0, 200) has eight starts and 36 career games under his belt, and with his playing time increased as a junior, he responded by delivering a career-high 46 tackles. Hyde enters camp as the starting strong safety, with Jairus Jones (6-1, 208, R-Fr.) serving as the backup.
Trenton Robinson (5-10, 195, Jr.), who ranked fourth on the team a year ago with 67 tackles, has solidified himself as the starting free safety. After battling a midseason injury, Robinson turned up his game down the stretch last season, averaging 11.3 stops in the last three games, including a career-high 14 in the win at Purdue and 13 in the Alamo Bowl against Texas Tech.
"Marcus and Trenton are really going to be second-year starters for us," Dantonio said. "Marcus has played a lot the last two years and had a really good spring, and Trenton has been a very key player for us. I keep telling Trenton he's playing safety at a higher power right now. He's become much more disciplined. He's a very reactive, quick and explosive."
Pat White (5-11, 193, R-Fr.) and Jesse Johnson (5-10, 186, Sr.-5) will provide depth behind Robinson at free safety.
"I think our secondary has a chance to be really good," remarked Dantonio. "I like the experience we have coming back in our first group, and we have some very young players who can make plays."
