Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails…

Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails… Hey Hondo, quick question. Is there any way you think we will see ">Gerald Owens hit the field

Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emails…

Hey Hondo, quick question. Is there any way you think we will see ">Gerald Owens hit the field this year? He has a tremendous upside, big 6'2 248# running back, or do you think we will utilize him as a fullback when Trevon Pendelton leaves? Ray Solomon

Trevon isn’t a good FB, he is a great FB. Owens has been nicknamed by some of his teammates as “3 Yards” because it doesn’t matter if he is running into a wall; he is going to get you at least three yards. Owens is very athletic and I would love to see him move into that backup FB spot this year (but actually get some carries) with a chance to replace Trevon one day. I do know that I want to see the FB utilized more.

Hondo, you reported that Vanderbilt was interested in Brad Salem as the OC. Why didn’t they want him? Carl

They wanted him badly and were prepared to offer him a multiyear deal at “well over $500K” per year. Vandy Coach Mason was going to come here to offer him the job and Coach Salem told him not to come.

Hondo, why did Coach Narduzzi only want Mike Tressel and Harlon Barnett and not Ron Burton? Jamie Fries

He didn’t only want Mike and Harlon; he wanted Brad Salem as well. Pat and Brad have a great relationship, but Pat’s interest came right after saying no to Vanderbilt and according to people from the Pitt perspective, “He (Salem) had just prayed about the Vandy job with Mason and he felt God wanted him to stay at MSU. Since God had just told him to stay, he wasn’t going to consider any other place since he felt God had already told him to stay at MSU. Even with Pitt. Wasn’t a rejection of Pitt, it was just trying to do what God wanted and not Brad.” It would have been easy for Brad to go to Pittsburgh, remember Narduzzi hired two of his family members. As far as Burton, I think he is a very good coach. His time has been an adjustment, but Pat wanted to look in a different direction.

Hondo, have you heard anything about players transferring and who? Craig Irving

I have heard of four players. Most transfers come after spring. Not always, but in most cases. Since none of them are public and the final decisions are not made as of yet, it would be irresponsible of me to speculate or say anything beyond that.

Hondo, I know you love Shilique. You said you thought he was going to the NFL draft if given a first round grade. Why did he stay? Sam in South Bend

He didn’t get a first round grade. I think he could have moved into it, but it wasn't solid.

Hondo, listening to the radio show the other night you seemed not to be real high on Malik McDowell. That shocked me. Any reason why? Kid was a freshman All American. Bob Benoit

He got plenty of reps at his position in a spot a lot of young men don’t play early. Malik has been given an amazing abundance of God-given talent. He can be his own worst enemy as we all can be. He needs to mature and grow up if he wants to be great.

Hondo, you said all year that ">Jack Conklin was a first round guy and that getting him back would be a good get. Kind of thought that was your lineman love, but when I heard Mel Kiper rave on your radio show about him I just wanted to give you props. Kyle

Thanks Kyle. Jack is an elite player, and if the Spartans come into 2015 healthy, they will have the best offensive line of the Dantonio era and it isn’t even close.

Hondo, with the Spartans offense being so amazing last year, who would you say was the MVP? Chris Moon

Hi Chris, this is easy. Wasn’t a player, it was Coach Bollman. One member of the MSU staff said it best to me, “He is a schemer. He is brilliant.” You can see in two short years at MSU how he has made everyone better; players, coaches, literally everyone.

Hondo, recently you talked about ">Delton Williams and it got me thinking. Who does he remind you of most from an NFL perspective? Cameron

I wouldn’t compare him to an NFL back. That would be unfair to a young man who has yet to break the starting lineup but I will say in what was a record-breaking offensive year, if you had to nitpick a failure it would be his development. There is no excuse (evidenced by Dantonio’s lamenting it happened) that there were games he didn’t even play.

There you go everyone. That is your weekly MSU football questions and answers article. Make sure you send your questions to SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put in the subject line Football Q/A. Thank you.