Spartans Find Momentum Not Just on the Field, But in Recruiting

Spartans Find Momentum Not Just on the Field, But in Recruiting
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The Spartan Football program certainly has momentum coming off of a 9-3 season and a January 1st bowl date with Georgia. That is a fact that can’t be denied. What people don’t know is the momentum that they have gained in recruiting.
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Over the last weekend the Spartans had nine of their (at the time) sixteen commitments in for the weekend. The tenth visitor was uncommitted, defensive end Corey Freeman from Ohio. His lack of commitment, however, didn’t last long. On Sunday night he informed the coaches of his intention to become a Spartan.
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The Spartans are willing to take up to 20 commitments for the 2009 class, however it has been years since the Spartans have had this good of a class and 2010 is already looking bright. Because of the momentum that the program has, they will be very picky with those remaining three positions, as they don’t have to take any risks knowing the reception they are getting for 2010.
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One division one head coach whose program had interest in DE Freeman and new DT Blake Treadwell told me earlier this week, “To get Freeman or Treadwell is huge. To have gotten them both was incredible. Those are two high motor players that both have such huge passion for the game.  Those two will be anchors when all is said and done with their Spartan careers and will be looked back upon with great admiration for that class.”
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The momentum that the Spartans has is not only getting them warm receptions as they have literally been all over the nation working to fill those final three spots for this season. That warm reception is also carrying over as they look towards 2010.Â
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One coach from a division one program explained their success to me this way when we talked this morning. “Mark and his guys are already working hard on 2010 and while the rest try to just bring in this year’s crop, they are already working 2010 and that is huge for them. They are truly making the most of their success.”
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The success has meant that kids are now calling the Spartans. Those calls fit nicely with a recruiting philosophy that wants to see kids on campus and in a camp prior to a commitment. They are getting kids making contact about camping here already for 2010.
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I spoke tonight with an offensive recruit’s family that explained the Spartan situation to me the way their son’s head coach did to them who has known Dantonio for a long time. “Our son would probably already have an offer from MSU if it were the first two seasons under Coach Dantonio. Because of the success however, they are being really careful and that means our son will just have to go to camp and really compete. MSU is his first choice, let’s just hope he gets to make that choice.” I am withholding the family’s name at their request in case their son doesn’t get that offer. Their son currently has offers from two other Big Ten schools as well as at least one other BCS school.