|
Hoyer makes list
Sunday 06-29-2008 12:19pm ET
Michigan State fifth-year senior Brian Hoyer, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media in 2007, is listed among 26 preseason candidates for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually since 1987 to the nation’s top senior quarterback by Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group. Hoyer is one of four Big Ten quarterbacks being considered for the Unitas Golden Arm Award, including Northwestern’s C.J. Bacher, Ohio State’s Todd Boeckman and Purdue’s Curtis Painter. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Hoyer ranked among the Big Ten leaders in passing efficiency (fifth with his 131.9 rating), passing yards (fifth at 209.62 ypg.) and total offense (seventh at 201.5 ypg.) as a junior. He completed 223-of-376 throws (.593) for 2,725 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 223 completions (third), 376 pass attempts (second), 2,725 passing yards (third) and 20 TD passes (tied for fourth) all rank among the top single-season totals in Spartan history. Hoyer recorded six 200-yard passing games last season. Neitzel Inks NBA Deal
Friday 06-27-2008 5:10pm ET
From M-Live:
It didn't take long for Drew Neitzel to get another opportunity to prove his basketball skeptics wrong.
Neitzel and his agent, Doug Newstadt, of Washington, D.C., agreed early Friday morning to a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Negotiations between the Timberwolves and Neitzel's camp began immediately following Thursday night's NBA draft. The deal allows the former star guard at Wyoming Park and Michigan State to train with the Timberwolves program and to participate with Minnesota in next month's NBA summer leagues in Las Vegas, Nev., while gaining exposure in front of other NBA coaches, general managers and scouts.
"It's a great situation," Neitzel said Friday afternoon. "The Timberwolves called me right after the draft to get me to play in their summer league. They definitely want me.
"They traded O.J. Mayo, and they already had some point guard spots open. It's a great opportunity to show that I can play in the NBA, because I know I can. I just need the chance, and I think Minnesota is my best chance."
The Timberwolves chose Mayo as the draft's third overall pick. After the draft, Minnesota and the Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a multi-player trade that sent the former Southern California standout to the Grizzlies, and No. 5 overall pick Kevin Love of UCLA from Memphis to Minnesota.
Love and Mayo were two of a record 10 college freshmen selected in the two-round, 60-player draft.
Neitzel had official pre-draft tryouts with nine NBA franchises, including Minnesota. He was projected to be a mid to late second-round pick or free agent.
"You want to hear your name called (at the draft), but I'm not really upset about not being taken by anyone," Neitzel said. "That's all behind me now. I can only look ahead, focus on the summer league and do the best I can."
Neitzel did not return calls from The Press after the draft, which ended Friday at 12:02 a.m.
"I was so busy with my agent and the Timberwolves in the hours after the draft," Neitzel said. "I was trying to figure out what was next in my basketball career."
Since his childhood, the 6-foot Neitzel has overcome questions about his height or speed or defensive skills or shooting to succeed at every competitive level. If he does not make an NBA roster, Neitzel will look overseas to begin his professional career.
"If I don't play in the NBA, I'll be making good money somewhere playing basketball," he said. MSU/Penn State News
Monday 06-16-2008 5:18pm ET
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State will play its annual season finale against Michigan State the Saturday after Thanksgiving starting in 2010. The Big Ten conference schedules for 2010-12 include a bye week for each team, pushing the end of the regular season back a week. Penn State typically wraps up its regular season the weekend before Thanksgiving.
The Nittany Lions have played a full 12-game slate in 12 weeks the past two seasons, but do have an off-week this season. But the calendar this year still allows Penn State to finish its 2008 campaign on Nov. 22, before Thanskgiving.
The Nittany Lions will have no bye in 2009 before the regular bye weeks begin the following year. MSU Loses a QB
Wednesday 05-21-2008 1:51pm ET
EAST LANSING – As one quarterback joins the Michigan State program, another one is making plans to leave. A day after Lowell High’s Keith Nichol decided to transfer to MSU from Oklahoma, current Spartan redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Foles chose to seek a release from his scholarship to transfer to another program.
Foles’ father, Larry, confirmed today his son would seek to transfer to a school closer to his home in Austin, Texas, and the family hoped to talk with MSU coach Mark Dantonio sometime next week.
“We are requesting a release,” Larry Foles said. “Nick’s attitude is that it’s not fair to any of them being in the same class to have to compete for time. That’s not Nick’s personality. He’ll compete, but he’s said, ‘If I‘ve got to viciously knock someone out, I’m not going to do that.’ He’s going to step aside.”
Dantonio meanwhile, spoke with media members this morning about the Nichol transfer, but didn’t spend much time addressing the Foles situation.
“I expect that Nick will be back either for summer school or to talk,” Dantonio said.
“We’ll make that decision when we come face to face.” Nichol Is Back
Tuesday 05-20-2008 5:04pm ET
QB Nichol transfers to MSUDave Dye The Detroit NewsOn second thought, Keith Nichol decided Michigan State is the right place for him after all. Nichol, a standout quarterback from Lowell, is transferring to MSU after a season at Oklahoma. He originally made a verbal commitment to the Spartans when he was in high school but changed his mind after MSU's disastrous season in 2006 in which coach John L. Smith got fired. "He's very excited," Nichol's father, Gary, said Tuesday afternoon in confirming his son's decision to transfer to Michigan State. "He met with coach (Mark) Dantonio and the staff (on Saturday). He came away with a great feeling about everything. He just feels he belongs there right now and that he's made the right decision. "We're a Michigan State family. We always have been. He grew up a Michigan State fan. He's happy to be home." Gary Nichol said Keith also had been in contact with Michigan, Purdue, Louisville and Cincinnati before deciding on Michigan State. Former football recruit bails and now may want to comeback
Sunday 05-11-2008 7:46pm ET
Former John L. Smith recruit Keith Nichol, who de-committed and went to Oklahoma when Smith was fired, is now transferring out of Oklahoma. The former Lowell HS four-star recruit is unsure where he is going to go. All he knows is he doesn't want to be a Sooner. The 6'2" quarterback will look at several options. It is unclear as of now if Dantonio will re-recruit Nichol. If Nichol decides to go to a D1 school, he will have to sit out a year. He has said Michigan and MSU are possiblities.
(mm)
Spartan hoops get Kansas
Sunday 05-04-2008 7:22am ET
MSU and Kansas agreed to play a home and home. It has been 4 years since MSU went to Kansas. In the upcoming 2008-2009 season, the Jayhawks will finally hold up their end of the deal and come to the Breslin Center.
MSU Football opens in prime time
Saturday 05-03-2008 4:46pm ET
Michigan State's football opener, Aug. 30 at California, will be televised on a regional basis by ABC, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. EDT. The Spartans will play their first game in Berkeley since 1957.
It marks the fourth meeting between the Spartans and Golden Bears. Michigan State leads the series 2-1. Cal won the most recent meeting, 46-22, at Spartan Stadium in 2002. Two more Spartans drafted on day 2
Monday 04-28-2008 9:30am ET
Tight End Kellen Davis was selected in the 5th round, 158th overall by the Bears. Here's his bio:
The Adrian, Mich., native played extremely well down the stretch, with 18 of his 32 catches coming over the last five games (281 yards and 3 TDs during that stretch). His 32 receptions exceeded the combined total from his first three seasons. He caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games, dating back to the 2006 season.
As a senior, Davis also had the opportunity to showcase his athleticism and versatility while seeing limited action at defensive end. He recorded six tackles, including two sacks (12 yards) while being utilized primarily as a designated pass-rusher. Davis recorded a sack in back-to-back games against UAB and Bowling Green. He played double-digit snaps on defense against Pittsburgh (13), Notre Dame (11) and Boston College (20).
Davis was rated as the No. 62 prospect overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
Then in the 7th round, Defensive End Ervin Baldwin was taken, 208th overall, also by the Bears. Here's his bio:
His 18.5 tackles for loss represent the second-best single-season total in Spartan history. His 8.5 sacks (71 yards) ranked second on the team, trailing only Jonal Saint-Dic. He posted at least one tackle for loss in 11 of the 13 games last season. Baldwin ranked third in the Big Ten and No. 16 (tied) in the NCAA in tackles for loss (1.42 per game), and he finished seventh (tied) in the league in sacks (0.65 pg.).
An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Baldwin finished seventh on the team in tackles in 2007, recording a career-best 58 stops (27 solos, 31 assists). He played as well as any Spartan defender down the stretch, recording 26 total tackles, with eight resulting in losses (45 yards) including four sacks (39) over the last five games.
(mm)
|
© 2008