Will 2011 Recruiting Class Step Up?

Looks like these guys beat me to this topic, but I'll still go ahead and put in my two cents.

One of the big reasons the Spartans excelled last year is that the 2010 recruiting class stepped up in a major way.  Here's a list of the biggest contributors from that class: Darqueze Dennard, Anthony Rashad White, LeVeon Bell, Skyler Burkland, Kurtis Drummond, Mike Sadler, Marcus Rush, Isaiah Lewis, Travis Jackson, Nick Hill, William Gholston, Tony Lippett, and Max Bullough.  Several of these guys became starters - star starters - and those that didn't become starters played important roles.

So the question is: will we see the class of 2011 make similar contributions?  I'm going to go with . . . no.  It's not that the class of 2011 isn't talented, but it's more that the Spartans have become a very deep squad.  They're loaded at all positions to the point that even Lawrence Thomas, 5-star recruit, will have to completely excel to see the field.

So which guys might step up from the 2011 class?  Well, Fou Fonoti is already contributing as the starter at right tackle.  Of course, he has the advantage of being a junior college transfer and being a senior this year.  I'm expecting big things from Fonoti, hoping that he ends up doing well enough to get drafted in the first 4 rounds of the NFL draft.

After Fonoti we have a lot of talented guys that probably could start for many other teams but that probably won't start at MSU until guys ahead of them graduate or (heaven forbid) get injured.  Nonetheless, the following guys could still make important contributions:

- Lawrence Thomas - probably won't start this year at defensive end unless William Golston goes down.  But I'm hoping to at least see signs this year that LT could become the next Golston, especially if Golston is leaving early for the NFL.

- Jack Allen - won't beat out Travis Jackson at center but could end up beating out Blake Treadwell for a guard spot.  In any case, since he can probably play at three spots on the O-line, he will likely end up playing quite a bit this year.

- Shilique Calhoun - probably won't start at defensive end, but I'm hoping to see signs that he could become the next Julian Peterson, as Mark Dantonio suggests.

- Andre Sims - could end up playing a lot at receiver.  Of course, the Spartans are thin at receiver, but more importantly, Sims may have been the most effective receiver in the Spring game (though several of the top guys were injured).

- Roger Williamson - is in a battle for a starting safety spot with Kurtis Drummond.  He may still win the starting job, though there is talk that both of them could be pushed by true freshman Demetrious Cox.

- Darien Harris - had a good Spring and appears to have become the backup for Chris Norman.  He won't start, unless there is an injury, but maybe we'll see flashes of brilliance.

- Paul Lang - I haven't heard much about Lang, but since he plays tight end, a position where the Spartans are thin, he should have a better opportunity than most to contribute.  We'll see if he can take advantage.