Some in the Detroit Media May Call Loss of SeVon Pittman a, “Critical Loss,” but Spartan Fans Know Better!

When the coaching landscape shuffles, so do verbal commitments. The Michigan State 2012 class took a “hit” last week when Se’Von Pittman decided that Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes were more attractive than MSU. These things happen. A kid cannot take his commitment lightly. After all, he will be spending the next four to five years of his life wherever he chooses to go.

Pittman is a good kid. He made a decision to pledge his services to Michigan State when uncertainty surrounded OSU. Who can blame him for wanting to be closer to home? Who can blame him for wanting to play for Urban Meyer? I certainly can’t.

Ten years ago, the loss of a Se’Von Pittman would have been devastating. He is a recruiting class headliner no matter where he goes. The MSU fans are still bemoaning the days when we lived and died by one or two recruits. Those days no longer exist in this program. Make no mistake about it, Pittman will be a star at Ohio State, but MSU’s defense doesn’t hang in the balance as a result.

The 2012 recruiting class is going to be small. It probably won’t receive the national hype that it deserves and honestly, I don’t really care. The media will crow about Brady’s class. The national media will talk about the irrelevance of the Big Ten other than Ohio State. The truth is that none of it matters. Steering the Spartan ship is Mark Dantonio. The program is on solid ground.  It is bigger than any one player. It is bigger than any one recruit.

Michigan State is loaded with guys that are hanging out in the three deep. Even if Pittman would have followed through and signed with MSU, he’d more than likely have been staring down a redshirt year anyway. Just ask a more highly touted Lawrence Thomas from this year.

Only one player played from the 2011 class and that player was Taiwan Jones. Most of his playing time was on special teams. Everybody else in the 2011 class redshirted. Matt Giampapa turned out to the be the true early star, he came as a walk on and earned his scholarship as a true freshman long snapper before the season was out.

Any number of those guys could rush the quarterback. There is so much defensive talent stockpiled, I’m not sure where some of these guys are going to play. Taylor Calero, Denzel Drone and many more are very talented, simply waiting for their number to be called, and don't forget Tyler Hoover (a starter to begin the season) sat out injured. He will be back!

Se’Von Pittman was not going to take reps away from ‘Big Will’ or Marcus Rush. Word on the street is that Jamal Lyles is the best defensive player in the state for 2012. He is still growing and is just another future Spartan defensive star.

The 2013 class will be the first real opportunity MSU has to capitalize on the last two seasons of double digit wins. MSU’s senior class is a small one. The quality of the 2012 class is right there with the previous two. You thought this year was fun. Wait ‘til they take the redshirts off of some of these big green monsters Mannie has been building.

So in the honor of the Christmas season we are in (yes we celebrate that in the Spartan Nation), I have one little song to calm the Spartan Nation. You better not pout, you better not cry, you better watch out I’m telling you why, Uncle Mark Dantonio’s still in town.