tOfficial 2008 Football Recruiting Thread

[Martin Spartan]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

I disagree that we are "stacked" at RB. We have 1 proven RB. That's it. No one else on the roster has proven capable of PT yet. I realize most of them are Frosh, but we have to hope that someone out of the Ray, Anderson, Leggett, Jimmerson quartet emerges as a viable threat next year.

Someone always emerges. We have good depth at RB, Ingram is a luxury, someone we all want but if he goes elsewhere we will be just fine.

[newlander]

it reminds me of the old saying: what came first, the chicken or the egg? Undoubtedly we have to win and show the blue chippers that if they come, that winning will continue. But you have to have the horses: and Ingram Jr. is a horse, no doubt. That was my only point. As for the immediate future: we'll be fine because knows what the 'F' he's doing unlike the last two guys in his position. If we can win 7 or 8 this season.....next season will be a very good recruiting haul IMO.

[Badfish]

I believe that Ingram would have came in and share time right away but of course we have other quality RBs so it's nothing to panic about

Larry Caper come on down!

[SpartanRocky]

Originally Posted by spartan80

Ingram isn't proven capable either. He's a good H.S. player.

This happens all the time, and every year there's at least a couple of backs that step up and play. We don't get a Javon Ringer every year, but he's coming back, so if we get a kid that runs like Javon in the next class MSU is still ok.

Watch, 2 of the 4 guys you mentioned above will step up next season when Javon is getting a break.

Yep, I agree with you 100%.

I wasn't calling Ingram "proven", or anything, just saying that we have no one behind Ringer who's done much of anything yet, aside from Ingram.

Highly touted? FW190bvi, Let's be honest here, these guys were solid coming out of HS, but they weren't "elite" prospects by any stretch.

Jimmerson was ranked 30 at the RB position. By contratst Ringer was 18. Anderson wasn't rated highly, he wasn't even rated as one of the top 100 at his position. He and Ray (No. 43 rated RB) are about the same size as ringer so you'd figure one of those guys would replace him. Legget was definitely a workhorse and like Anderson wasn't ranked at his position. All were Rivals "3-stars", Ringer being the highest with 5.7 (we all know but for his knee injury he would've been much higher, but then again he may not have gone to State), Ray is a 5.6 while Leggett and Anderson are both 5.5 (lowest 3-stars). I am not saying that these guys are crap, far from it. Each is a solid prospect in his own right. To call them highly touted however, is a pretty big overstatement. None of them contributed last year ( a half of the UAB game doesn't count), so you can't say "oh, these guys were awesome out of HS, let's not worry about back up RB".

Just so we're clear, I am not saying that if Ingram doesn't come here we're screwed. I was simply saying that we need someone to step up next year. I'm sure someone will, likely leggett and Jimmerson. The fact is, we have no one proven behind Ringer, getting Ingram isn't going to change that. That makes me a bit nervous heading into this year, but Ringer has been injured 2 of his 3 years at State and has missed games because of it. Hopefully someone comes out and establishes themselves as a #2 back. If Ingram comes to state, no doubt he'd be in the mix.

[DantonIzzo]

Originally Posted by newlander

Stacked? Not IMO by any means. Some good depth, but no studs whatsoever. Make no mistake, we'll be fine this year with Ringer, Leggett and Anderson but if Ringer goes down.........there's no other breakaway stud threat like Ingram would have provided. Well survive, but as I posted in another thread: and other people have posted on this board THOUSANDS of times over the years, until we start keeping Ingram, Perry and others like them at home, we won't turn the corner and win like we all want to.

What, exactly, does that mean? No offense, newlander -- I don't mean to single you out -- but winning like I want to at this point just means 7-8 per year for a long time, considering no coach has done that at MSU in the last 40+ years.

We're barely over 365 days removed from a horrific three-year stretch. Let's not get ahead of ourselves either on the field or the recruiting trail. I'd love to see MSU land Ingram and Perry as much as anyone, but we also need to be realistic and realize that the big-time kids aren't going to consistently come barring a leap of faith on their part.

In the meantime, I have no problem building the program up old-school style -- like Iowa. Take a buch of under-the-radar kids and get to the Top-10/Big Ten title level.

[DantonIzzo]

Originally Posted by msuferd

Bingo.

While losing Ingram won't kill the program, you need to stock your program with talent if you ever want to compete w/ OSU at the top. Losing a recruit who seemed like a "gimme" isn't very helpful in accomplishing this. I also don't think it will help w/ Perry.

On to 2009, which is off to a good start.

Let's crawl before we walk, folks. We haven't even done that in a long, long time.

[SpartanRocky]

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

What, exactly, does that mean? No offense, newlander -- I don't mean to single you out -- but winning like I want to at this point just means 7-8 per year for a long time, considering no coach has done that at MSU in the last 40+ years.

We're barely over 365 days removed from a horrific three-year stretch. Let's not get ahead of ourselves either on the field or the recruiting trail. I'd love to see MSU land Ingram and Perry as much as anyone, but we also need to be realistic and realize that the big-time kids aren't going to consistently come barring a leap of faith on their part.

In the meantime, I have no problem building the program up old-school style -- like Iowa. Take a buch of under-the-radar kids and get to the Top-10/Big Ten title level.

I agree with ya, although we tend to be able to land better players than Iowa.

7-8 wins a year should be the norm. Either 4-0 or 3-1 in non-conference, and at least a 4-4 B11 record. I think we win 5 B11 games this year and lose to Cal in the non-conf. and tOSU, PSU (stupid happy valley curse + 18 returning starters = ), and Wisky.

We beat: ND, FAU, Eastern, Iowa, NW, IU, PU and SCum.

* we could beat wisky, although they're in the PSU/tOSU category as far as returning starters are concerned.

[burnsmi4]

Originally Posted by spartan80

You've got it backwards. Until MSU starts producing consistently, the 4 & 5 star kids are going elsewhere. The only way they come to E.L. is when Dantonio & co. show they can win with 3 stars by coaching them up to occasionally upset a better team, and by winning the games against teams with similar talent. Other than that, the only way a kid like Gordon, Stanton, Duckett, etc. come to MSU is the family connection or they just grew up liking the Spartans.

MSU also needs to stick with Dantonio too. How many of the top talent in the country would like to play for 2 or 3 different coaches in their careers? You need a coach to stay at your school to show the kids and their coaches that you are not going anywhere and can be trusted.

[DantonIzzo]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

7-8 wins a year should be the norm. Either 4-0 or 3-1 in non-conference, and at least a 4-4 B11 record.

No kidding -- in theory. Yet how many times has that happened here since the mid-60's?

How about we actually accomplish that first before we start wanting more?

[SpartanRocky]

Originally Posted by burnsmi4

MSU also needs to stick with Dantonio too. How many of the top talent in the country would like to play for 2 or 3 different coaches in their careers? You need a coach to stay at your school to show the kids and their coaches that you are not going anywhere and can be trusted.

Is this an issue?

[spartan80]

Originally Posted by burnsmi4

MSU also needs to stick with Dantonio too. How many of the top talent in the country would like to play for 2 or 3 different coaches in their careers? You need a coach to stay at your school to show the kids and their coaches that you are not going anywhere and can be trusted.

Yeah, add up the coaches um, PSU & OSU have had since Duffy left, and it's fewer than MSU has had over the same period. We've finally found our coach, now we have to stick with him.

[TeamCaptainJohn]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

Is this an issue?

in the 70's 90's and 00's it has been

which is funny because those have been some of the worst MSU teams

[burnsmi4]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

Is this an issue?

It can be an issue for players. There are the recruits that want to play for certain coaches. It can be a problem for high school coaches when the recruit asks them for advice and the coach doesnt know who will be MSU's head coach in a couple years. These things take time to build the trust and have a consistancy in the process

[SpartanRocky]

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

No kidding -- in theory. Yet how many times has that happened here since the mid-60's?

How about we actually accomplish that first before we start wanting more?

No joke, next year it's concievable though.

We could go 9-3 or even 10-2. Cal is beatable.

Injuries/depth, etc. Who knows.

7 wins should be the min. though.

[DantonIzzo]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

No joke, next year it's concievable though.

We could go 9-3 or even 10-2. Cal is beatable.

Injuries/depth, etc. Who knows.

7 wins should be the min. though.

Funny -- I don't see more than 7. Maybe 8 if all goes well. We're still very young and very thin -- younger and thinner, actually, than we were this past season.

[SpartanRocky]

Originally Posted by burnsmi4

It can be an issue for players. There are the recruits that want to play for certain coaches. It can be a problem for high school coaches when the recruit asks them for advice and the coach doesnt know who will be MSU's head coach in a couple years. These things take time to build the trust and have a consistancy in the process

Oh, I know it is an issue with players, you need consistency to win and recruit. What I meant was that is there an issue with MD not staying at State?

[SpartanRocky]

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

Funny -- I don't see more than 7. Maybe 8 if all goes well. We're still very young and very thin -- younger and thinner, actually, than we were this past season.

tOSU is the only sure loss next year.

[CoachL]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

tOSU is the only sure loss next year.

I was in the stands the year we stunned OSU as we held on the final play. OSU # 1 fell and Woody was not pleased. OSU is not a sure loss. Never ever quit!!!

[BillOGoods]

Originally Posted by CoachL

I was in the stands the year we stunned OSU as we held on the final play. OSU # 1 fell and Woody was not pleased. OSU is not a sure loss. Never ever quit!!!

Hey, I was there too. Standing room, sougheast side of the stadium. Sweet, so sweet. Levi Jackson rumbled, what, 85 yards something for the TD. Then, the goal line stick with time expiring. So sweet. And, oh yea, never, ever give up.

[newlander]

dantonizzo, I've been singled out by a lot worse than you.... It was pretty vague of me by saying "win like we all want to." I'm just not accustomed to saying "compete for Big Ten championships" with a straight face anyway. I get your point, believe me: I was here in the early 90's and graduated the year Perles went 3-8 (later to be 0-11 after the use of an ineligible player) so believe me I'm not a myopic alum that thinks we should win 10 games per year. But, as you said, if we could get to the Iowa/Penn State level of the league that would be nice. The next level would be OSU/MI/Wisky and that will be years away, but there isn't much of a difference between MSU and Wisky IMO. Alvarez just took that program to the next level and then some. Ingram or no Ingram, Perry or no Perry, it's nice to have the confidence that Coach can stabilize this thing to the point we'll be landing kids like that the next 2-3 recruiting seasons.

[Nals]

Originally Posted by SpartanRocky

tOSU is the only sure loss next year.

At home, I call BS.

OSU is good. They maybe really good. Heck they may win the National Championship, but there are no for sure wins in the Big Ten. Ringer and Hoyer will be seniors, which means we have a shot in every game. Plus, the defense will be that much better. We do lose safeties and Thornhill, but that can be over come. I am not worried about the DE, as we now have enough DEs to find 2 very good starters (Perry would be nice though).
In other words, we can beat anyone, but we won't beat everyone.

[gospartans1267]

Bump
Signing day is a few days away, lets forget about the basketball game

[The Dancing Bear]

Originally Posted by gospartans1267

Bump
Signing day is a few days away, lets forget about the basketball game

If signs Ingram and Perry, basketball season may get forgotten altogether.

[TeamCaptainJohn]

for those that havent been paying attention



Iowa has taken 5 running backs, 1 of whom is already enrolled

[spartaspartan]

Originally Posted by fw190bvi

for those that havent been paying attention



Iowa has taken 5 running backs, 1 of whom is already enrolled

Ingram won't give 2 ****s about that.

He knows he can start over all 5 of em

edit: It might be 6 if you look at the athletes