Beaming rays of sunshine poured into the MSU football team’s outdoor practice facility, media members and cameramen swarmed each nook and cranny of the field, and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared loudly across the field.
Must be time for another football season. The MSU football team took the field outside the Duffy Daugherty Football Building Monday for its first official preseason practice.
While his team warmed up, head coach Mark Dantonio took a few minutes to entertain members of the media. Here are few highlights from the conversation:
“Snow” problem at quarterback
Dantonio announced the name of another player who will compete to become MSU’s third-string quarterback.
Freshman walk-on Charlie Snow, a native of Pleasant Lake, will compete with at least four others for the position.
Sophomore wide receiver David Williams, freshmen defensive backs Mitch White and Charles Burrell, and sophomore punter Aaron Bates are also getting close looks, Dantonio said.
“We’ve got some guys, we just have to figure out which is the guy as we move into the camp,” Dantonio said. “We won’t know that for probably two-three weeks as we find out who can handle all the different situations.”
Senior starter Brian Hoyer and redshirt freshman Kirk Cousins are the only quarterbacks remaining from last season, as Nick Foles and Connor Dixon both opted to transfer this summer.
Getting fast: Slow process
Dantonio wants his team to get faster. To make sure that happens, he added speed coach Randy Gillon to the mix this offseason.
Gillon, who is also an assistant coach on MSU’s track team, has great experience working with athletes, but Dantonio isn’t expecting instant results.
“Running is a habit, it takes a long time to change a habit,” he said.
“But I do think that if you get the right kind of instruction and the right things are getting taught, those are things that they can improve on over the course of time, but it may take a year or two.”
Although it may take a while for his players to become outright faster, it shouldn’t take too long for them to get into game shape.
Dantonio said most of his players — especially the older ones — are in very good condition. Some of the younger players, however, aren’t quite there yet.
“Our younger players … are finding out that they’re young and that there’s an adjustment there. So even though they’ve been acclimated a little bit, there’s still an adjustment.
“We’ll see how they come out.”
‘Diehl’ing with adversity
After being slowed down by a nagging knee injury, sophomore offensive lineman Jason Diehl has made some significant strides this offseason.
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If Diehl, a former four-star recruit, can continue to improve, he could be part of MSU’s solution at offensive line, where the team is trying to replace left tackle Pete Clifford, guards Kenny Shane and Mike Gyetvai, and center John Masters.
Dantonio said he’s excited about Diehl’s progress, but isn’t jumping the gun.
“We’re going to see about Jason — I hope that he’s able to compete and make it,” Dantonio said.
“His knee’s progressed greatly, I think, in this past six months so we’re going to find out about him.
“But he’s got to be able to practice.”
