B1G Recruiting Discussion

[buddyguy]

MSU's recruiting "success" this year is, ironically, due to OSU's recruiting dominance. MSU is picking up some regional kids that OSU is passing on due to OSU's national appeal. OSU didn't offer Morris or Andrews. They "offered" Vance, as they do with a lot of Cass Tech kids but really didn't recruit him hard (and certainly wouldn't have accepted a commitment from him at this stage). Lukusa lost his spot at OSU when Jordan (who OSU ranked higher) committed.

MSU is likely going to sign Robertson, too, and some OSU fans will probably worry about that. But OSU is going to pass on him, too, because they will sign the top 3 DEs on their board (Bosa, Hall and Cooper). Dantonio should send Meyer a thank you card on NSD for handing him some good prospects. MSU deserves credit for scooping these guys up (instead of Michigan and other B1G schools) but I don't see them as a serious threat to OSU in coming years because OSU is recruiting on different (and higher) level.

 

[Dryden]

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/05/michigan_state_recruiting_clas_2.html

Traverse City OT Thiyo Lukusa commits, puts Michigan State 2016 recruiting class in top 10

EAST LANSING — Michigan State's 2016 recruiting class continued to gain steam late Wednesday night when offensive tackle Thiyo Lukusa, a consensus top 10 player in the state, announced his commitment via his Twitter account.

The Spartans' recruiting class reached the unprecedented heights of a top 10 ranking during the Mark Dantonio era from two of the three major online recruiting services with the addition of the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder from Traverse City West High School.

Scout.com has Michigan State's class ranked No. 8, while 247sports has the Spartans No. 10 and Rivals.com puts MSU at No. 11.

Lukusa, who originally planned to announce his school last Dec. 1, chose Michigan State over offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn, Georgia, Nebraska and Tennessee, among several others.

The top 10 ranking is significant in that it is the goal that has been set by the Spartans' 2016 recruits.

Cont'd ...

 

[Buckeye86]

Still, I don't see MSU as a serious threat to OSU in coming years because OSU is recruiting on different (and higher) level.

While I agree they will not be an elite dynasty type of program, given their established player development and coaching, they will almost certainly field some good to great teams every few years when the stars align and they have a particularly successful class of players develop into junior and senior starters and leaders.

 

[muffler dragon]

given their established player development and coaching

86, you may or may not be able to answer this, but I was thinking about this during this week with the announcements. The Spartan D: is it a style that's been Dantonio's for some time or was it more a machination of Narduzzi or Dantonio/Narduzzi? I can't remember if the Buckeyes 2002 played this style or not.

 

[matcar]

While I agree they will not be an elite dynasty type of program, given their established player development and coaching, they will almost certainly field some good to great teams every few years when the stars align and they have a particularly successful class of players develop into junior and senior starters and leaders.

This is probably true. The other thing is that they are getting a lot of Ohio kids-and as Buckyle can tell you, they have special powers.

 

[jebussmurf]

86, you may or may not be able to answer this, but I was thinking about this during this week with the announcements. The Spartan D: is it a style that's been Dantonio's for some time or was it more a machination of Narduzzi or Dantonio/Narduzzi? I can't remember if the Buckeyes 2002 played this style or not.

Not an expert but I'm fairly certain we didn't play a pressing cover 4 defense in 2002. Doss wouldn't have been asked to cover slot receivers. Either way, I think looking at our 2002 defense fairly irrelevant. Offenses have changed so much since 2002, MSU's defense may still be Dantonio's as he adapts to spread offenses.

 

[Buckeye86]

86, you may or may not be able to answer this, but I was thinking about this during this week with the announcements. The Spartan D: is it a style that's been Dantonio's for some time or was it more a machination of Narduzzi or Dantonio/Narduzzi? I can't remember if the Buckeyes 2002 played this style or not.

I don't know specifically but I do agree the press 4 defense Michigan State currently runs is not what OSU used under Dantonio.

Who knows, maybe MSU will lose a significant amount of their coaching mojo without Narduzzi- although that has not been reflected on the recruiting trail.

 

[pnuts34]

I don't know specifically but I do agree the press 4 defense Michigan State currently runs is not what OSU used under Dantonio.

Who knows, maybe MSU will lose a significant amount of their coaching mojo without Narduzzi- although that has not been reflected on the recruiting trail.

But the field will matter more than the recruiting trail, ask Bama... I think Narduzzi will hurt a lot for that defense. But I'd gladly be wrong and have MSU win the big bowl games while OSU wins NCs. Its a win win for the Big 10

 

[jwinslow]

I don't know specifically but I do agree the press 4 defense Michigan State currently runs is not what OSU used under Dantonio.

Who knows, maybe MSU will lose a significant amount of their coaching mojo without Narduzzi- although that has not been reflected on the recruiting trail.

Frankly this is the first time they've recruited this well since Dantonio has been there. Last year was a big improvement but still only good for Sparty, not overall.

The thing about Sparty is that they've developed some strong QBs, RBs and some WRs, TEs and OL during Dantonio's tenure. It's not as consistent as the defense but it is a very underrated part of their success. They'll ride that again this year like they did last year.

 

[buddyguy]

I don't know specifically but I do agree the press 4 defense Michigan State currently runs is not what OSU used under Dantonio.

Who knows, maybe MSU will lose a significant amount of their coaching mojo without Narduzzi- although that has not been reflected on the recruiting trail.

MSU's press coverage was killer in 2013 and was, IMO, the strength of that team. It took a step down in 2014 after Dennard left and will take another step down with Waynes' departure this season.

Both Dennard and Waynes were outstanding players and were major surprises given their low recruiting rankings coming into MSU. Did MSU develop them or were they two very unique late-bloomers? We'll see this year but after watching MSU struggle to find a competent replacement for Dennard last season I think their good fortune may be running out at corner. And without corners the caliber of Dennard and Waynes that defense isn't anywhere near as effective.

 

[Bucky32]

Interesting note: Waynes and Melvin Gordon were both on the same high school team (Kenosha Bradford, WI) yet somehow managed to never win the state title.

 

[jwinslow]

Interesting note: Waynes and Melvin Gordon were both on the same high school team (Kenosha Bradford, WI) yet somehow managed to never win the state title.

Is Melvin about to cross the street?

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Interesting note: Waynes and Melvin Gordon were both on the same high school team (Kenosha Bradford, WI) yet somehow managed to never win the state title.

Leading into the draft, the mothership had a fairly involved piece about their friendship going back as far as it did. It was really neat to get a glimpse of their closeness. Seemed like a couple of really good guys.

 

[OH10]

Michigan State is going to cut into Kentucky's territory at this point because recruits are finally realizing that UK really can't compete in the SEC. And that MSU can compete on a national stage.

 

[pnuts34]

Michigan State is going to cut into Kentucky's territory at this point because recruits are finally realizing that UK really can't compete in the SEC. And that MSU can compete on a national stage.

That's still to be determined. UK can and will still sell playing in the SEC, and to some kids that still holds weight. But UK can no longer just go into Ohio and poach kids that OSU wasn't after, MSU is making their name in the state as well.