More from National Signing Day

Even with the story on Thursday’s front page and the capsules on page 5A, there’s still more fun-filled National Signing Day facts to be had.

By now, everyone knows the numbers regarding MSU’s 2009 recruiting class: Nearly unanimously ranked in the top 25 by recruiting services (No. 16 by Rivals.com, No. 15 by PrepStar, No. 21 by Scouts, Inc. — No. 37 by Scout.com, but that’s for a column or another blog, probably a long, hateful one), seven All-Americans, every position ranked in the top 15 in the country by Rivals.com and so forth.

I won’t go through recruit by recruit because we have already have the capsules, but here are some things that stood out to me Wednesday afternoon when MSU head coach Mark Dantonio as introduced his 23 member class:

*In Dantonio’s last two recruiting classes, six players from each class have played as a true freshman and that’s significant. Experience is everything and that no doubt played a role in 2008’s 9-3 record. There’s no question that next year’s team will be the most talented MSU has had in quite a while, but there’s no reason to think that number won’t be equaled, and even (probably, in my opinion) topped. Heading the players sure to see a lot of playing time is running back Edwin Baker: “We have some outstanding tailbacks in the program already but I think Edwin Baker will have an outstanding career here and certainly have the opportunity to get his hands on the ball very, very early,” Dantonio said. “And he should compete for playing time as a freshman.”

Although Dantonio said most of this class could see early playing time, he specifically stated Baker, linebacker Chris Norman and lineman Blake Treadwell.

*Speaking of Treadwell, did you know that aside from being the son of offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, he also is Dantonio’s godson? But don’t think that’s the only reason he’ll be on the field quickly; some of the plays on his highlight reel were very impressive (one in particular: He didn’t just “tackle” a ball carrier, he picked him and threw him down. Pure strength.). Interestingly, Dantonio said Treadwell, who Rivals.com ranked as the third best center in the country, will play defensive tackle next year.

*While speaking of Dana Dixon, Norman’s teammate at Detroit Renaissance, Dantonio said he will start out at cornerback then possibly see time at wide receiver. Here’s an interesting note on the type of players Dantonio and his staff are looking for: “Guys who can play wide receiver have to go on the other side of the ball and play defensive back, that’s the way we recruit here,” Dantonio said. “If you’re one dimensional maybe you don’t have enough toughness to get on the field on special teams. If you’re a defensive back not playing wide receiver maybe you don’t have the ball skills to play wide receiver and go after the deep ball, but we’re going to make sure we’re going to recruit both sides of the ball and that these guys can be interchangeable.”

*When speaking of wide receiver Bennie Fowler, Dantonio offered a glimpse of the potential this group has as a whole, especially at the skilled positions: “When I looked at our guys we had in camp, including our quarterback and our running backs that came this year, I really felt like that was a great group of perimeter people who could play at any level at the Division 1 level,” Dantonio said. “Big Ten Conference or beyond.”

*Kickers usually don’t get their fair share of praise, but you have to like the calm demeanor shown by new kicker Kevin Muma in this tidbit Dantonio shared: “Talking to him (Tuesday) night,” Dantonio said of Muma, who also is the point guard on Troy’s basketball team. “He hit two free throws with no time on the clock to win the game.”