The 2012 Michigan State Spartan Football Team Lacks Experience, But Loaded At WR with New and Returning Talent

The Spartans signed another solid group of recruits in 2012. Michigan State fans everywhere are excited about the incoming talent at the wide receiver position in particular. DeAnthony Arnett, Aaron Burbridge, MacGarrett Kings, Monty Madaris and Kyle Kerrick will be evaluated this fall and could potentially find their way into the playing group immediately.

Let’s not forget the talent pool waiting ahead of them. With all of the excitement, Michigan State fans should not forget the guys that redshirted last season and those that are waiting their turn to star at MSU. Juwan Caeser, Keith Mumphrey, A.J. Sims and Bennie Fowler bring a lot of talent with little experience. However, they have all been a part of the Spartan system and should not be discounted as viable pieces of the MSU equation heading into the fall.

Juwan Caesar is the lone Floridian of this group and possesses both the size (6’3”) and the speed to be a mismatch on the edge for MSU. His Nigea Carter like build and his silky smooth stride will be tough to keep off the field. Had it not been for an early season injury in 2011, he could have possibly played.

Keith Mumphrey is an excellent all around athlete that has only seen the field in mop up duty. The third year sophomore will get his chance to earn some snaps this fall and is the type of guy that isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. He will be counted on as a sure handed receiver and will also be counted on to block as all MSU receivers are taught. Mumphrey could sneak up on some people and have a solid year.

A.J. Sims is a dynamic slot receiver. At 5’9” inches, he has burst, change of direction and doesn’t drop the ball. He will be a big part of the equation this fall as Maxwell will need a receiver ‘underneath’ that can make plays after the catch.  

Bennie Fowler would have taken a lot of snaps this year had he of been healthy. Fowler is a big receiver who is fast and has the ability to separate. Fowler required surgery after the season and will not be available this spring. With all of the talent coming in and all of the talent stock piled for spring ball (this includes Kerrick), Fowler will have to come back very strong this fall to break into the starting rotation. I still expect him to be a big part of the playing group this fall. He is explosive like KMART, but has better hands.

This past summer, the media made a huge deal about the loss of Jones, Gordon and Misch. Spartan Nation confidently stated that the linebacker position would not only be solid, but would improve. Cunningham, Martin and Nichol will be tough to replace. Cunningham is MSU’s all-time receptions leader, Martin was MSU’s ‘Mr. Everything’ and Nichol turned a lot heads as a down field blocker and owns the best offensive play in MSU history (AKA Rocket).

Much like the MSU linebackers of 2011, I expect this MSU receiver group to pick up right where the ‘Big Three’ left off. It is hard to imagine that the MSU receivers waiting in the wings might be better than the ones that are departing. Then again, nobody knew who Denicos Allen and Max Bullough were a year ago. Will we be saying the same thing next year at this time about Mumphrey, Caesar and Sims?

To Be Continued Fall of 2012…