Dantonio excited about class of 2010’s potential impact to MSU football team

As well as providing long-term stability, MSU football coach Mark Dantonio said this year’s recruiting class should help fill immediate needs.

The Spartans’ 2010 class is evenly balanced offensively and defensively, featuring players at nearly every position.

Defensively, the class consists of four defensive backs, three linebackers and three defensive linemen, while the Spartans’ offensive players also are spread about each position.

“From that standpoint, it has a lot of versatility,” Dantonio said. “We addressed our needs first of all, and it’s a pretty balanced recruiting class.”

The class consists of four four-star players and one five-star athlete in Detroit Southwestern-product William Gholston, according to recruiting Web site Rivals.com. After two running backs left the program at the end of last season, the Spartans brought in two running backs, Nick Hill (Chelsea, Mich.) and Le’Veon Bell (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), both of whom enrolled early.

Additionally, MSU’s pass defense, which ranked near the bottom in the nation in yards per game, should be boosted by the arrival of four defensive backs, led by four-star recruit Isaiah Lewis (Indianapolis).

Arriving early
Dantonio said the four players who enrolled early — Hill, Bell, quarterback Joe Boisture (Goodrich, Mich.) and linebacker Max Bullough (Traverse City) — have been carrying themselves well during initial workouts.

Dantonio said he thinks Hill’s versatility could make him a special player and foresees him becoming the kind of back who can do a little bit of everything.

“Don’t let his size fool you,” Dantonio said of Hill, who is listed at 5-foot-6. “During the summer, we put him through every test imaginable. He does everything and is an outstanding player.”

Looking ahead
Rankings mean nothing until players take the field and show their strengths and weaknesses, but Dantonio said he believes the program is in good shape for the future.

He said this year’s class has enough skill and versatility to make an immediate impact.

“(The players) start new now, so it’ll be a challenge to overcome the hurdles, but they have the ability to play now,” Dantonio said.