Mark Dantonio Finally Gets his Man: TE Jamare Mills!

It may have been a cold, wet spring this past Saturday, but don’t tell that to Mark Dantonio. You might as well have fifteen inches of snow and a ton of

It may have been a cold, wet spring this past Saturday, but don’t tell that to Mark Dantonio. You might as well have fifteen inches of snow and a ton of reindeer and elves, because for him it was Christmas.

Dantonio and his staff had spent over a year back in 2010 recruiting one of the top players from Ohio for the 2011 class in Jamare Mills. They didn’t get him then, he went on to Community College in Bryan, Texas, but they got him now. 6’5” 261# Mills pledged his talent to the green and white and what looked like a depleted TE group took a big step forward. 

Dion Sims is a star for the Spartans at TE, but this spring no one else could separate from the pack in that group to solidify themselves as the number two. The Spartans have the best TE recruiting class in the nation for the 2012 class with incoming Evan “BULLDOZER” Jones and Josiah Price, but they will be true freshman and the Spartans wanted some experience.

With a change at Texas A & M suddenly the much sought after and talented Mills became available and the Spartans pounced. Mills told us on Spartan Nation Radio Monday night, “When I met with Coach Dantonio and Coach Tressel about the situation, I just thought this is a great opportunity and I have a chance to come in and compete for the number two spot behind Dion.”

It helped that the Spartans reputation for using TEs is well known. In fact Mills mentioned back in high school watching MSU on film and how they made the most out of the position. “I remember my senior year was the first time I actually watched tape and how they used Brian Linthicum.” Mills loved how he was a blocker, a pass catcher, and an H back out of the backfield. He went on to add, “I fit in well.”

Mills currently runs a 4.7 forty-yard dash and after having played this past season at 280# he is now at 261. He stands 6’5” and said that he plans to bulk back up when he starts working with MSU legendary strength and conditioning coach Ken Mannie when he arrives in June. He expects to play he told Spartan Nation, ”At 275 pounds.”

According to Mills he has, ”Four to play three, I still have a red shirt available.” For those of you not well versed in the vernacular of college football that means he has three years on field participation available to him and he can use those over a four-year period. Most college athletes who come to a school right out of high school have five to play four.

He will arrive in Mid Michigan in early June where he will reside with his Uncle who lives in Lansing. He will immediately enroll at Lansing Community College and once he completes, “A couple of courses,” he will then join his Spartan teammates in team workouts. He will start immediately working with Ken Mannie, but until he is enrolled, he is not able to take part in team workouts. 

Mannie made a real impression on Mills and his mother. “When my mom and I first came in he kind of shocked us with his deeper voice and kind of loud and really energetic. Me and my mom could tell we were talking to the strength and conditioning coach just from shaking his hand. He is really excited to get his hands on me and will make me a very good player.”

Will Gholston was his host over the weekend and Mills came away impressed with the Spartans super star and his future teammates. What stood out to him? “All the players have a great relationship,” and what did he think of Gholston? “He is such a great guy on and off the field and he is a great example.”

Heralded as a young man of great character, Mills reflected on how he was raised has shaped him into the man he is today. “Growing up it was just me and my mom. She set the example as the mom and the dad in the family. I have expectations from her that I have to live up to. Everything I have learned and have to offer anyone comes from my mom.”

Mills is known as a young man that never stops smiling. This happy go lucky young man talked about why that is. “Even when something bad and unfortunate happens I feel my smile could brighten someone’s day.”

He was impressed with everything about Spartan football, but being here on the weekend of the NFL draft showed Mills something. Something different about how things are in the Spartan Nation now with the type of players and program Dantonio is building. 

On a weekend that saw six Spartans drafted he said what he took away was that, “Guys come in not worried about the NFL because they know that will take care of itself. I feel they are worried about winning games and playing for each other. Once they play for each other I feel like they all have one goal and that’s to win a Big Ten Championship. Winning a Big Ten Championship takes care of the NFL and everything afterwards.”

So did Mills allow himself while sitting in the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium on Saturday to think about running out of that tunnel under the lights against Boise State in 122 days? “I can’t wait. Every time I think about it I get chills that go through my body. Imagining myself in the green and white is amazing and words can’t express how excited I am.”

Once again Mark Dantonio doesn’t have to strong-arm kids. The program he has built and the character he sets at the forefront do that for him. This one thing we know, Mills may turn out to be a star or he may not, but Dantonio got a young man whose character and work ethic fit what he is building in East Lansing.