Ted Gill Position: Defensive Line Experience: Sixth Year

Now in his sixth year as the defensive line coach at Michigan State, Ted Gill has continued his career-long trend of developing productive and impactful players.

Gill molded a young line in 2011 that featured only one senior to help the Spartans lead the Big Ten in rushing defense (100.5 yards per game), total defense (277.4 ypg.) and third-down defense (.337). In addition, MSU ranked among rank the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Top 20 in seven statistical categories, including total defense (sixth), sacks (seventh), rushing defense (ninth), scoring defense (10th) and tackles for loss (14th).

The line was instrumental in stopping the run, as four teams (Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia) posted their season lows in rushing against the Spartans. MSU, which also held seven opponents to under-100 yards rushing, finished in the top 30 nationally in rushing defense for the third time in the past five seasons (30th in 2007; 24th in 2009).

Junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy earned consensus first-team All-America honors to become MSU's first All-American at the position since 1971. Worthy, whose presence in the middle was one of the main factors for MSU's stout defense, also earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades from the coaches and media. He is the second Spartan to be named an All-American under Gill (Jonal Saint-Dic: 2007).

Sophomore defensive end William Gholston, in his first year as a starter, developed into one of the Big Ten's top players on the defensive line. The second-team All-Big Ten selection ranked second on the team and tied for seventh in the Big Ten with 16.0 tackles for loss and compiled 29 tackles in a two-game span against Nebraska (career-high 15 tackles) and Minnesota (14). Gholston tied a Spartan bowl record with 5.0 tackles for loss, including a career-high 2.0 sacks, in the 2012 Outback Bowl win over No. 18 Georgia.

Opposite of Gholston, red-shirt freshman Marcus Rush was named the Big Ten Freshman Defensive MVP by ESPN.com and was also named a first-team Freshman All-American by Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. Rush, an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick, ranked first among freshmen in the conference in tackles for loss (12.0 for 45 yards) and sacks (4.0 for 23 yards) and also had 58 tackles.

Before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Big Ten Championship Game, senior defensive tackle Kevin Pickelman, an honorable mention All-Big Ten choice by the media, was having his best year as a Spartan, recording career highs in tackles (37), tackles for loss (7.5 for 39 yards) and sacks (4.0 for 31 yards).

Spartan defensive linemen have garnered All-Big Ten recognition 10 times during Gill's tenure. In addition, Ogemdi Nwagbuo, who Gill mentored in 2007, is in his third season playing in the NFL.

During Michigan State's Big Ten Championship season in 2010, Gill's defensive line helped the Spartans rank among the national leaders in several categories during the regular season, including scoring defense (No. 26 allowing 20.1 ppg.) and total defense (No. 31 allowing 337.8 ypg.). The line was instrumental in stopping the run, as the Spartans ranked third in the Big Ten and 21st nationally in the regular season by giving up just 121.9 rushing yards a game. In addition, MSU allowed only one 100-yard rusher all season (Game 11 against Purdue, Keith Carlos: six rushes for 103 yards and one touchdown).

Worthy earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors after leading the line with 40 tackles and four sacks. A Freshman All-American in 2009, Worthy also ranked third on the team with eight tackles for loss.

Senior defensive end Colin Neely had a career year in his final season under Gill, ranking first on the team with 10 tackles for loss while compiling a career-high 34 tackles. In addition, Pickelman and sophomore Tyler Hoover showed significant improvement, as both players recorded career highs in tackles.

The 2009 Spartan defensive line featured two new starters and a steady mix of underclassmen in the rotation, but the unit still managed to help the defense rank third in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in sacks. The line was also instrumental in stopping the run, as the Spartans were fourth in the Big Ten and 24th nationally by allowing just 113.2 rushing yards a game. MSU limited their opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards in six games.

Veteran end Trevor Anderson led the line with 45 tackles (7.5 for loss) and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Anderson, who also played under Gill at Cincinnati, amassed 39.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks in his career.

Worthy was named a Freshman All-American after ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (9 for 34 yards) and sacks (4.5 for 23 yards). Opposite of Anderson, junior end Colin Neely steadily improved in his first year as a starter, posting career highs in tackles (24), tackles for loss (7.0) and sacks (3.0).

In 2008, three Spartans on the defensive line earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, including seniors Justin Kershaw and Brandon Long, who both recorded career highs in tackles for loss and sacks. Anderson, in his first year as a Spartan after transferring from Cincinnati, collected a career high and team-leading eight sacks, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten. Anderson was one of 35 players in the nation named to the midseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

Michigan State's defensive line saw a dramatic improvement in Gill's first season. Defensive ends Jonal Saint-Dic and Ervin Baldwin enjoyed breakout seasons, while Kershaw and Ogemdi Nwagbuo also had their most productive years wearing the Green and White. Saint-Dic, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, set a Big Ten record and led the nation with eight forced fumbles. The senior ranked fourth in the conference and 16th in the NCAA in sacks with 10, marking the sixth-best total on MSU's single-season chart. For his efforts, Saint-Dic was named a second-team Walter Camp All-American and was one of eight finalists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Baldwin, a seventh-round draft choice by the Chicago Bears, led the team and ranked third in the Big Ten with 18.5 tackles for loss, which was the second-highest total in school history. Kershaw and Nwagbuo each recorded career highs with 30 and 28 tackles, respectively.

Gill arrived in East Lansing with 32 years of coaching experience, including four seasons as the defensive line coach at Cincinnati (2003-06).

During the 2006 regular season, the Bearcats ranked among the NCAA leaders in rushing defense (No. 27 at 107.5 yards per game), total defense (No. 31 at 304.3 ypg.) and scoring defense (No. 34 at 19.3 points per game). Cincinnati also held seven of its 12 regular-season opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. In 2006, Gill tutored defensive tackle Terrill Byrd, who earned first-team All-BIG EAST honors after producing 8.5 tackles for losses (31 yards) including three sacks (18). He also coached Anderson, who was named the team's outstanding defensive lineman after leading the Bearcats in sacks (6 for 32) and finishing second in tackles for losses (13 for 50).

In 2005, defensive end Adam Roberts was selected UC's outstanding defensive lineman after leading the Bearcats in tackles for losses (12.5 for 57) and sacks (6 for 38).

Shortly after Gill's arrival in Cincinnati in 2003, the Bearcat defensive linemen began rewriting the school's record book. He helped send three defensive linemen from the 2004 team to the NFL ranks: Trent Cole (Philadelphia Eagles), Andre Frazier (Cincinnati Bengals) and Mike Wright (New England Patriots). Cole ranks second on UC's all-time list in career tackles for losses (48) while Frazier stands second in career sacks (22.5).

Gill's resume includes stops at almost every level of football. He coached in the professional ranks with the NFL's Carolina Panthers (1996-98), XFL's Los Angeles Extreme (2001) and CFL's Montreal Alouettes (2002).

Prior to spending the 1995 season as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Gill worked for five years as an assistant coach under Hayden Fry at Iowa (1990-94) where he coached the defensive line and linebackers, helping the Hawkeyes earn three bowl appearances (1991 Rose, 1991 Holiday and 1993 Alamo). In 1991, defensive end Leroy Smith earned first-team All-America and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors after registering a school-record 18 sacks. During his tenure in Iowa City, Gill instructed five first-team All-Big Ten selections, including Jim Johnson (1990), Matt Ruhland (1990), Ron Geater (1991), Smith (1991) and Mike Wells (1992-93).

His previous full-time coaching credits include stints at Utah (1974-76), New Mexico State (1977), Ball State (1978-81), Cornell (1982), Army (1983), North Carolina (1984-87) and Rice (1988-89). As the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Ball State, Gill built a unit that led the nation in scoring defense in 1978 while helping the Cardinals to the Mid-American Conference championship and a 10-1 overall record.

Gill won two letters as a linebacker and nose tackle at Idaho State from 1968-69. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Idaho State in 1973.

He and his wife Pamela have six children: Libby, Nikki, Seneca, John, Erica and Tracy.

THE GILL FILE

YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Sixth. Joined staff on Nov. 30, 2006, from Cincinnati.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Graduate assistant coach at Idaho State (1971-73); offensive line coach at Utah (1974-76); defensive line coach at New Mexico State (1977); defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Ball State (1978-81); defensive coordinator at Cornell (1982); defensive line and linebackers coach at Army (1983); defensive line and linebackers coach at North Carolina (1984-87); defensive line coach at Rice (1988-89); defensive line and linebackers coach at Iowa (1990-94); defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (1995); defensive line coach at Cincinnati (2003-06). Professional - Defensive line coach at NFL's Carolina Panthers (1996-98); defensive line coach at XFL's Los Angeles Extreme (2001); defensive coordinator at CFL's Montreal Alouettes (2002).

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in education from Idaho State in 1973.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - Two-year letterwinner as a linebacker and nose tackle at Idaho State (1968-69).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach - 1986 Aloha Bowl, 1991 Rose Bowl, 1991 Holiday Bowl, 1993 Alamo Bowl, 2004 Fort Worth Bowl, 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl.