Michigan State Depth Chart shows... depth, and lots of it

ES is checking out the published depth chart for the Big Green this fall.   Below are the positions entering the fall and don't include Spartan freshmen or walk-ons.  The ES has highlighted in bold those returners who saw significant playing time (that the ES remembers), particularly in big games in 2011. In two positions (C and FS) there is some experience, but not listed as starters; thus that position was not bold-faced.  Lots of talent in the trenches for Michigan State, and the depth is outstanding on the defensive side of the ball.


OFFENSE

QB
10 Andrew Maxwell (6-3, 212, Jr)
18 Connor Cook (6-4, 222, R-Fr)
FB
38 Niko Palazeti (6-1, 250, So)
37 Trevon Pendleton (5-11, 248, R-Fr)
TB
24 Le’Veon Bell (6-2, 244, Jr)
22 Larry Caper (5-11, 222, Sr)
20 Nick Hill (5-8, 190, So)
LT
59 Dan France (6-6, 315, Jr)
70 Skyler Burkland (6-7, 315, So)
LG
64 Blake Treadwell (6-3, 300, Jr)
66 Jack Allen (6-1, 295, R-Fr)
C
63 Travis Jackson (6-3, 280, So)
68 Ethan Ruhland (6-5, 290, Sr-5)
RG
62 Chris McDonald (6-5, 298, Sr-5)
72 Nate Klatt (6-4, 290, Jr)
RT
51 Fou Fonoti (6-4, 296, Sr)
77 Henry Conway (6-6, 330, Jr)
TE
80 Dion Sims (6-5, 285, Jr)
42 Denzel Drone (6-2, 260, Jr)
WR
13 Bennie Fowler (6-1, 218, Jr)
14 Tony Lippett (6-3, 190, So)
WR
25 Keith Mumphery (6-0, 208, So)
21 Andre Sims Jr (5-9, 182, R-Fr) OR
5  DeAnthony Arnett (5-11, 170, So)


DEFENSE

DE
44 Marcus Rush (6-2, 250, So)
89 Shilique Calhoun (6-4, 240, R-Fr)
DT
98 Anthony Rashad White (6-2, 330, Sr)
93 Damon Knox (6-4, 278, R-Fr)
60 Micajah Reynolds (6-5, 318, Jr)
NT
91 Tyler Hoover (6-7, 310, Sr-5)
99 James Kittredge (6-4, 272, So)
DE
2 William Gholston (6-7, 278, Jr)
92 Joel Heath (6-6, 266, R-Fr)
8 Lawrence Thomas (6-3, 295, R-Fr)
SLB
10 Chris Norman (6-1, 233, Sr)
45 Darien Harris (6-0, 210, R-Fr)
34 Taiwan Jones (6-3, 230, So)
MLB
40 Max Bullough (6-3, 252, Jr)
50 Steve Gardiner (6-1, 224, Sr-5)
49 TyQuan Hammock (6-0, 245, Jr)
WLB
28 Denicos Allen (5-11, 225, Jr)
41 Kyler Elsworth (6-1, 220, Jr)
CB
31 Darqueze Dennard (5-11, 188, Jr)
15 Trae Waynes (6-1, 175, R-Fr)
6 Mylan Hicks (5-11, 192, So)
FS
27 Kurtis Drummond (6-1, 200, So)
26 RJ Williamson (6-0, 205, R-Fr)
12 Dana Dixon (6-2, 176, Jr)
SS
9 Isaiah Lewis (5-10, 205, Jr)
23 Jairus Jones (6-1, 207, Jr)
CB
5 Johnny Adams (5-11, 177, Sr-5)
32 Mitchell White (5-11, 185, Sr-5)

SPECIALISTS

KO
17 Kevin Muma (6-0, 195, Jr)
4 Dan Conroy (5-10, 186, Sr-5)
PK
4 Dan Conroy (5-10, 186, Sr-5)
17 Kevin Muma (6-0, 195, Jr)
P
3 Mike Sadler (6-0, 180, So)
17 Kevin Muma (6-0, 195, Jr)

Alamo Bowl: Michigan State Depth Chart vs Texas Tech

(significant lineup changes in bold)

-----OFFENSE-----
QB - 8 Kirk Cousins, 6-3, 202, So
- 9 Keith Nichol, 6-2, 215, So
RB - 22 Larry Caper, 5-11, 215, Fr
- 4 Edwin Baker, 5-9, 200, Fr
FB - 45 Andrew Hawken, 6-2, 248, Sr
- 42 Andrew Pendy, 6-2, 240, Sr
WR - 82 Keshawn Martin, 5-11, 185, So
- 87 Milton Colbert, 6-4, 210, R-Fr.
WR - 25 Blair White, 6-2, 200, Sr
- 81 Brad Sonntag , 5-8, 177, So.
TE - 83 Charlie Gantt, 6-5, 248, Jr
- 88 Brian Linthicum, 6-5, 245, So
OT - 57 Rocco Cironi, 6-6, 209, Sr
- 71 John Deyo, 6-6, 298, Fr
OG - 67 Joel Foreman, 6-4, 306, So
- 68 Ethan Ruhland, 6-5, 293, Fr
C - 65 Joel Nitchman, 6-4, 296, Sr
- 66 John Stipek, 6-5, 306, Sr
OG - 64 Brendon Moss, 6-7, 284, Sr
- 75 Jared McGaha, 6-6, 298, So
OT - 59 D.J. Young, 6-5, 310, Jr
- 64 Brendon Moss, 6-7, 284, Sr

-----DEFENSE-----
DE - 58 Trevor Anderson, 6-2, 260, Sr
- 91 Tyler Hoover, 6-7, 260, Fr
DT - 70 Oren Wilson, 6-3, 294, Jr
- 98 Blake Treadwell, 6-3, 272, Fr
DT - 99 Jerel Worthy, 6-3, 292, Fr
- 96 Kevin Pickelman, 6-4, 268, So
DE - 89 Colin Neely, 6-1, 248, Jr
- 54 David Rolf, 6-4, 228, So
LB - 34 Brandon Denson, 5-11, 230, Sr
- 10 Chris Norman, 6-1, 215, Fr
LB - 53 Greg Jones, 6-1, 228, Jr
- 55 Adam Decker, 6-3, 238, Sr
LB - 43 Eric Gordon, 6-0, 228, Jr
- 36 Jon Misch, 6-3, 207, Jr
DB - 38 Kendell Davis-Clark, 6-0, 216, Sr
- 31 Ashton Henderson, 5-11, 189, Sr
DB - 9 Jeremy Ware, 5-10, 191, Sr
- 37 Ross Weaver, 6-1, 203, Sr
S- 33 Dan Fortener, 6-2, 205, Sr
- 11 Marcus Hyde, 6-0, 206, Jr
S - 39 Trenton Robinson, 5-10, 190, So
- 26 Jesse Johnson, 5-10, 188, Jr.

-----SPECIAL TEAMS-----
P - 18 Aaron Bates, 6-0, 192, Jr
K - 14 Brett Swenson, 5-8, 185, Sr
LS - 56 Alex Shackelton, 6-2, 245, Jr
PR - 82 Keshawn Martin, 5-11, 185, So
- 25 Blair White, 6-2, 200, Sr
KR - 4 Edwin Baker, 5-9, 200, Fr
- 20 AJ Jimmerson, 5-10, 205, Sr

Cousins & Ray win Spartan backfield starting battle; Spartans comply with NCAA conditioning rules

The depth chart has been released for MSU vs MSU. And the winners are...

Kirk Cousins has been named Michigan State's starter for the season opener against Montana State. Caulton Ray will start at running back, with Ed Baker and Larry Caper likely to see lots of reps. Colin Neely at the other DE spot opposite of Trevor Anderson. Brendon Moss will start at right tackle.

Also, kudos over to the LSJ for following up with Free Press' checking in on Michigan State and the Spartans' compliance with NCAA rules on off-season conditioning. As expected, MSU players are doing their own policing and conducting their own training... it's a free country and no-fouls involved. This report gives added credence to the Freep's investigation of scUM coaches' inability to rely on their players to do what needs to be done. Maybe the coaches felt they needed to directly put pressure on the players, require them to mandatory conditioning instead of relying on the players to get the message across -- this is no surprise, after the worst season in school history. More laughter from the ES...

Photo courtesy MSU Media Relations.