Spartans Report: Strategy And Personnel
KEY LOSSES
LT D.J. Young, C John Stipek and RT J'Michael Deane are gone. Highly touted David Barrent is the favorite at left tackle, with several players vying for the other spots. Max Bullough is in line to replace Greg Jones at middle linebacker. At strong safety, Jairus Jones is the logical choice to replace Marcus Hyde after Jones showed flashes of excellence as a true freshman nickel back. Michigan State will miss WR Mark Dell and TE Charlie Gantt, but the Spartans have veteran depth at both spots.
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2011:
QB Kirk Cousins -- One of the main reasons Michigan State is expected to start 2011 in the Top 25, Cousins had a mostly terrific junior season. He was the Spartans' unquestioned leader as a junior and has NFL-level accuracy and quickness of release -- if not size. Cousins is on pace to finish No. 1 or No. 2 in every major passing category at Michigan State.
RB Larry Caper -- Edwin Baker became a star in 2011, and freshman Le'Veon Bell moved past Caper as Caper nursed a hand injury early in the season. But don't forget, Caper was the No. 1 back as a freshman in 2009, and he's determined to get himself back into the rotation.
DE Tyler Hoover -- The expected starter on the other side, Will Gholston, is getting all the buzz, but Hoover finally started to live up to his own lofty recruiting rankings as a redshirt sophomore in 2010. Another offseason in the weight room should help Hoover become a difference-maker as a junior.
FS Trenton Robinson -- Although Robinson nearly cost Michigan State the Big Ten title by fumbling away what should have been a game-clinching pick in the end zone at Penn State, he also turned into a playmaker as a junior. Robinson finished second in the Big Ten with 12 passes defended, and he should be a vocal leader for the defense as a senior.
PLAYER NOTES
--DT Blake Treadwell will stay at Michigan State, even though his father -- offensive coordinator Don Treadwell -- has moved on to take the head coaching job at Miami (Ohio). Treadwell may be moving positions, though. He'll get a look at center in spring ball.
--QB Kirk Cousins remains in a pre-med program with hopes of being a surgeon some day, but he also has developed an interest in broadcasting. Cousins is interning with Michigan State's sports information department, doing some broadcasting work for the school's official Web site.
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