Football is Life...The Rest is just Details. (NCAA 11)

[DerkontheOS]

Michigan State Spartans 2011 Preview.

Spartans Offense
Returning Starters-7

Quarterbacks
1. Kirk Cousins 6'3'' 204lbs (RS)Senior
2. Keith Nichol 5'9'' 187lbs (RS)Senior
3. Joe Boisture 6'6'' 203lbs (RS)Freshman
Vince Mack 6'3'' 217lbs Freshman
Clint Williamson 6'3'' 215lbs Sophomore

Grade - C+
Cousins got the passing game clicking towards the end of the year, last year. Hopefully, he can continue on that hot streak this year.

Halfbacks
1. Larry Caper 5'11'' 223lbs Junior
2. Eric Backer 5'9'' 200lbs (RS)Sophomore
3. David Spears 5'10'' 202lbs (RS)Junior
4. Andre Buford 5'8'' 185 (RS)Junior
Nick Hill 5'7'' 182lbs (RS)Freshman
James Nash 6'1'' 211lbs Freshman
Noah Walker 5'11'' 196lbs Freshman
Tony Lippett 6'3'' 190lbs (RS)Freshman

Grade - C
Caper had some injury problems last year, but this year he appears to be health and ready to produce. Also Eric Baker, who was red shirted last year, is a more than competent spell back for Caper.

Fullbacks
1. Adam Setterbo 6'3'' 230lbs (RS)Senior
2. Cameron Taylor 6'7'' 216lbs Freshman
Alex Williams 6'3'' 234lbs Freshman

Grade - D-
The running game might take a big hit with the loss of Bendzuck, but hopefully Setterbo can do a good enough job to keep it going.

Wide Receivers
1. B.J. Cunningham 6'2'' 206lbs (RS)Senior)
2. Keshawn Martin 5'11'' 185lbs Senior
3. Chris D Rucker 5'10'' 177lbs (RS)Senior
4. Fred Smith 6'2'' 230lbs Senior
5. Keith Mumphery 5'11'' 199lbs (RS)Freshman
6. Donald Spencer 6'2'' 208lbs (RS)Sophomore
Jeremy Langford 6'0'' 186lbs (RS)Freshman
Noah Cason 6'2'' 171lbs Freshman

Grade - C
B.J. Cunningham was just starting to produce big number then the season ended, but it looks like this year the passing game will be very good. Also, Keshawn Martin will provide a very good YAC receiver, as he is the punt returner.

Tight Ends
1. Brian Linthicum 6'5'' 241lbs (RS)Senior
2. Dion Sims 6'5'' 278lbs Junior
3. Cameron Taylor 6'7'' 216lbs Freshman

Grade - C
This position takes a big hit with the loss of Charlie Gantt, but Linthicum is a solid pass catcher and a good blocker. Coach Young recruited a very good pass catcher, Cameron Taylor, so expect to see Taylor on the field on passing downs and even in the red zone.

Tackles
1LT. John Deyo 6'6'' 296lbs (RS)Junior
1RT. Zach Hueter 6'6'' 334lbs (RS)Junior
2LT. Skyler Schofner 6'7'' 285lbs (RS)Freshman
2RT. Dave Hunt 6'4'' 313lbs Freshman
Trey Williams 6'7'' 327ls Freshman

Grade - C
Deyo and Hueter are the returning starters from last year. So the outside of the line got even better than they were last year.

Guards
1LG. Joel Foreman 6'4'' 307lbs (RS)Senior
1RG. Jared McGaha 6'6'' 296lbs (RS)Senior
2LG.Ethan Ruhland 6'5'' 293lbs (RS)Junior
2RG. Chris McDonald 6'5'' 298lbs (RS)Junior
3LG. Micajah Reynolds 6'5'' 310lbs (RS)Sophomore
3RG. Travis Jacksons 6'4'' 273lbs (RS)Freshman

Grade - C+
The same situation at Tackle. The offensive line is shaping up to be great this year!

Centers
1. Nate Klatt 6'4'' 294lbs (RS)Sophomore
2. Brock Miller 6'2'' 285lbs Freshman

Grade - C-
Nick Klatt steps into the center spot after Stipek and those are some pretty big shoes too fill. But Klatt is a very good center and will be more than a solid starter.

Spartans Defense
returning starters - 5

Defensive Ends
1LE. Cameron Jude 6'3'' 267lbs (RS)Junior
1RE. William Gholston 6'7'' 248lbs (RS)Freshman
2LE. Tyler Hoover 6'7'' 273lbs (RS)Junior
2RE. Taylor Calero 6'3'' 235lbs Sophomore
3LE. Marcus Rush 6'3'' 228lbs (RS)Freshman
Marcus McCray 6'3'' 245lbs Freshman

Grade - C
Jude comes back after a great season, but is not the most talked about player on the Defense....That would be William Gholston. Gholston is a great pass rusher and many people are saying he will be the best pass rusher the Spartans have ever had.

Defensive Tackles
1. Jerel Worthy 6'3'' 300lbs (RS)Junior
2. Kevin Pickelman 6'4'' 280lbs (RS)Senior
3. Blake Treadwell 6'3'' 279lbs (RS)Sophomore
4. Anthony White 6'3'' 314lbs (RS)Freshman

Grade - C+
With the graduation of Oren Wilson the Defensive Tackle spot remains with out a play maker. Although, Worthy made some plays last year and hopefully he will step it up.

Outside Linebackers
1LOLB. Steve Gardiner 6'1'' 223lbs (RS)Junior
1ROLB. Chris Norman 6'1'' 227lbs (RS)Sophomore
2LOLB. Jeremy Gainer 6'1'' 232lbs (RS)Sophomore
2ROLB. Justin Wilson 6'0'' 220lbs (RS)Freshman

Grade - C
The Linebacker corps took some big hits with the loss of Eric Gordon and Greg Jones, but the Spartans are well on their way to filling those spots in. Norman is back and Gardiner appears to be in good form, so no need to worry.

Middle Linebackers
1. Tyquan Hammock 6'0'' 252lbs (RS)Sophomore
2. Max Bullough 6'3'' 227lbs (RS)Freshman
3. Jeremy Gainer 6'1'' 232lbs (RS)Sophomore
Clint Poole 6'3'' 209lbs Freshman

Grade - C
The All-American Greg Jones has left this Spartans Defense searching for the next solid run stopper and Tyquan Hammock might be him. Hammock has good lateral movement and text book tackling skill, also he will start as only a Sophomore.

Cornerbacks
1. Johnny Adams 5'11'' 170lbs Senior
2. Mitchell White 6'1'' 172lbs (RS)Junior
3. Chase Parker 5'9'' 178lbs (RS)Sophomore
4. Mylan Hicks 5'11'' 185lbs (RS)Freshman
5. Kurtis Drummond 6'2'' 199lbs (RS)Freshman
Justin Fry 6'1'' 173lbs Freshman
Brett McGill 6'1'' 179lbs Freshman

Grade - C
With Chris Rucker gone this position is a little unstable, but Johnny Adams and Mitchell White improved a lot in the off season.

Free Safeties
1. Trenton Robinson 5'10'' 190lbs Senior
2. Willie Mangum 5'11'' 171lbs Freshman
Isaiah Lewis 5'11'' 191lbs Sophomore

Grade - C
Trenton Robinson is returning for his final year and will be the leader of the secondary. Also, Coach Young decided to red shirt Isaiah Lewis this year in preparation of Robinson's graduation.

Strong Safeties
1. Jairus Jones 6'1'' 217lbs (RS)Sophomore
2. Shawn Davis 6'3'' 198lbs Freshman
3. Willie Mangum 5'11'' 171lbs Freshman

Grade - C-
Jairus Jones with take over the Strong Safety spot for 2010. Jones isn't as fast as some would like but he is one of MSUs best tacklers and has very good field awareness.

Spartans Special Teams
returning starters - 2

Kickers
1. Dan Conroy 5'10'' 187lbs (RS)Junior
2. Gordon Herron 6'0'' 192lbs Freshman

Grade - B+
MSU fans are excited to see Conroy back and with another year of eligiblity left.

Punters
1. Dan Conroy 5'10'' 187lbs (RS)Junior
2. Gordon Herron 6'0'' 192lbs Freshman

Grade - D-
Conroy will also take over punting duties which is a change for him, as he has never punt before. But he has good leg strength and has been working on his punting form all off season, so he looks very good punting the ball.

Kick Returners
1KR. Edwin Baker 5'9'' 200lbs (RS)Sophomore
1PR. Keshawn Martin 5'11'' 185lbs Senior

Grade - C
With Lewis red shirted, Edwin Baker will take over the kick returning responsibility and Keshawn Martin will stay has the number one punt returner. Baker, the back up halfback, has very good moves and can see cut back lanes very good which will make him an excellent kick returner.

Overall - C
MSU had a great first season under Coach Young, but lost some talented Seniors this year. On the other hand they still have some talent left especially on offense, with Conroy and most of his company returning the Spartan offense looks very good. But the defense lost some key Seniors at important positions, I guess we will have to see how this defense holds up this year.

*denotes red shirted
*denotes returning starter

Michigan State Spartans Preseason All-Americans

Cameron Jude 6'3'' 267lbs (RS)Junior LE
--- All-NCAA 1st Team, All-Big Ten 1st Team

Larry Caper 5'11'' 223lbs Junior HB
--- All-Big Ten 1st Team

B.J. Cunningham 6'2'' 206lbs (RS)Senior WR
--- All-Big Ten 1st Team

Jerel Worthy 6'3'' 300lbs (RS)Junior DT
--- All-Big Ten 2nd Team

Trenton Robinson 5'10'' 190lbs Senior FS
--- All-Big Ten 2nd Team

Dan Conroy 5'10'' 187lbs (RS)Junior K
--- All-Big Ten 2nd Team

Keshawn Martin 5'11'' 185lbs Senior KR/PR
--- All-Big Ten 2nd Team

[Clonefan84]

Looks like it could be rough this season. Hope you can make a good bowl game again.

[DerkontheOS]

Michigan State Spartans 2011 Schedule

at Idaho W 52-14
vs #4 Miami L 33-35
at #10 Notre Dame L14 - 28
BYE
at Ohio State L 28-34
BYE
vs Purdue W 28-14
vs Michigan W 31-6
at Minnesota W 17-10
at Illinois W 27-3
vs Indiana W 30-9
at #3 Wisconsin W 21-14
vs # 22 Penn State W 31-27
BYE
BYE
BYE
Rose Bowl #5 Stanford L 28-31
BYE

A Schedule Strength

*denotes conference game

[DerkontheOS]

2011 NCAA Football Rankings - Coaches Poll

RANK	TEAM	LAST WK	RECORD	POINTS
1.	Alabama(36)	--	0-0	1500
2.	Ohio State(24)	--	0-0	1469
3.	Oklahoma(1)	--	0-0	1186
4.	Washington	--	0-0	1057
5.	Wisconsin	--	0-0	1040
6.	North Carolina	--	0-0	998
7.	Boise State	--	0-0	983
8.	TCU	--	0-0	936
9.	Arkansas	--	0-0	881
10.	Stanford	--	0-0	811
11.	Texas A&M	--	0-0	810
12.	Virginia Tech	--	0-0	804
13.	Texas	--	0-0	781
14.	Georgia Tech	--	0-0	776
15.	Florida State	--	0-0	720
16.	West Virginia	--	0-0	704
17.	Texas Tech	--	0-0	627
18.	Notre Dame	--	0-0	474
19.	Michigan State	--	0-0	430
20.	Georgia	--	0-0	413
21.	USC	--	0-0	390
22.	Nebraska	--	0-0	387
23.	Tennessee	--	0-0	283
24.	Miami	--	0-0	281
25.	Iowa	--	0-0	275

OperationSports.com

Preseason Poll.

[DerkontheOS]

Big Ten Standings - 2011 Season

Teams	CONF W-L	OVERALL W-L	PF	PA	STRK
#2 Ohio State	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
#5 Wisconsin	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
#19 Michigan State	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
#25 Iowa	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Michigan	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Penn State	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Indiana	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Purdue	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Minnesota	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Northwestern	0-0	0-0	0	0	----
Illinois	0-0	0-0	0	0	----

OperationSports.com

Conference Outlook.

[georgiafan]

Are u updating this on the ea website to? Ive been thinking about going into detail on mine to like I have in the past. but not sure if anyone would follow/comment

[DerkontheOS]

Michigan State Spartans Recruiting - Class of 2011
PLAYER NAME	CALIBER	HT	WT	HOMETOWN
Vince Collier, QB		6'0''	194	Franklin Park, IL
Tony Evans, FB		6'2''	257	Farmington, MI
Tim Brown, DE		6'6''	207	Perry Heights, OH
Robert Mosley, DT		6'6''	316	Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Christian Slaughter, DT		6'1''	268	Mount Olive, NC
David Walton, SS		6'3''	213	Bridgeport, CT
Ryan Ward, G		6'5''	286	Jackson, MI
Jonathan Mason, K		6'1''	177	Fraser, MI
Kelvin Johnson, WR		6'2''	183	Findlay, OH
Thomas Anderson, WR		6'4''	175	Americus, GA
Ernest McBride, WR		6'3''	187	Syosset, NY
Lance Mansfield, ATH		6'0''	173	Fenton, MI
Chris Smith, CB		5'11'	172	Athens, AL
Steve Lowe, T		6'7''	315	Beachwood, OH
Cedric Robinson, OLB		6'2''	182	Belle Chasse, LA

In season recruiting.

[DerkontheOS]

2011 Heisman Watch
(preseason)

#1 Jordan Wynn QB Utah

#2 Kellen Moore QB Boise

#3 Alexander Torres WR TTU

#4 John Clay HB Wisc

#5 Beau Reliford TE FSU

*denotes risers
*denotes fallers

2009 winner: Mark Ingram HB Bama
2010 winner: Jake Locker QB Wash