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Football Media Center: Purdue
Nov. 13, 2009
As the Michigan State football team (5-5, 3-3 Big Ten) prepares to take on Purdue (4-6, 3-3) in a key Big Ten matchup Saturday, Nov. 14 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., check out all the latest information on the Spartans before kickoff. The game, which begins at noon, will be televised on ESPN. GAMEDAY COVERAGE: BROADCAST COVERAGE: RADIO: The Spartan Sports Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Jim Miller, sideline reporter Jason Strayhorn and broadcast host Will Tieman, will broadcast the game to 35 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard on flagship stations WJIM (AM 1240)/WMMQ (FM 94.9) in Lansing and WJR Radio (AM 760) in Detroit. The MSU-Purdue game also can be heard live on satellite radio (Purdue broadcast): SIRIUS (Channel 121) and XM (Channel 141). GAME NOTES: STATISTICS:
LATEST VIDEO:  Spartan Football All-Access Coach Dantonio's Weekly Press Conference Player Interviews Thursday Chalk Talk
FIRST-AND-10 (what you need to know about the MSU-Purdue matchup) - • A trademark of Mark Dantonio's Michigan State teams have been their ability to produce wins late in the regular season. Under Dantonio, the Spartans are 5-2 (.714) in games played in November. In the four seasons (2003-06) prior to his arrival, Michigan State went just 2-11 (.154) in November. The last time the Spartans posted a perfect record in November came in 1999 when Michigan State closed out the regular season with three straight victories (over Ohio State, Northwestern and Penn State). • Michigan State's 2009 schedule ranks among the nation's most difficult (No. 20), according to NCAA figures. The Spartans' 12 opponents have a combined record of 51-38 (.573) against other NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams. • Michigan State leads the Big Ten in passing offense (280.7 yards per game) and total offense (419.0 ypg.) and ranks third in scoring offense (30.1 points per game). • Sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 15 in the NCAA in passing efficiency with his 149.3 rating. In nine starts, Cousins has completed 158-of-248 throws (.637) for 2,097 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. His 149.3 passing efficiency rating (sixth), 63.7 completion percentage (seventh) and 14 TD passes (tied for 10th) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in Spartan history. He also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing yards (sixth at 209.7 yards per game) and total offense (seventh at 212.6 ypg.). • Michigan State's receiving corps features three career 1,000-yard receivers: fifth-year senior Blair White (104 catches for 1,520 yards), junior Mark Dell (79 for 1,291) and sophomore B.J. Cunningham (82 for 1,038). That trio has combined for 265 receptions, 3,849 yards and 17 career touchdowns. • Fifth-year senior Blair White leads the Spartans in receptions (58), receiving yards (836) and touchdown catches (7). White ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD receptions (tied for first), receiving yards (fourth at 83.6 per game) and receptions (fifth at 5.8 per game). His 58 catches (tied for eighth) and seven TD receptions (tied for eighth) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in Michigan State history. He also is listed among the NCAA leaders in both receiving yards (No. 27) and receptions (No. 36). Thirty-eight of his 58 catches (66 percent) have produced either a first down or a score, including 14 gains of 20 or more yards. White has led the team in receptions in seven of 10 games this season. • Sophomore Ashton Leggett recorded career highs in carries (14), rushing yards (110) and rushing touchdowns (4) in Michigan State's 49-14 victory over Western Michigan. Leggett became the first Spartan running back other than Javon Ringer to rush for 100 yards since Jehuu Caulcrick rushed for 111 yards on eight carries against Notre Dame in 2006. His four rushing TDs marked the most by a Spartan since Ringer scored five times against Eastern Michigan in 2008. Prior to last week's game against Western Michigan, Leggett had seven career carries for 7 yards.
• Junior linebacker Greg Jones leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with 117 tackles. Jones leads the team in tackles (117 total), tackles for loss (11.0 for 57 yards), sacks (7.5 for 47 yards) and production points (233). He became the first Spartan to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since 2003-04 when both linebacker Ronald Stanley and free safety Jason Harmon reached the milestone. A model of consistency, Jones has led the team in tackles in 21 of the last 23 games. • Lou Groza Award semifinalist Brett Swenson ranks first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision active scoring leaders with 352 career points, five points ahead of Alabama's Leigh Tiffin (347). His 66 career field goals rank second among active NCAA FBS kickers, trailing only Tiffin (76 made). The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Swenson already ranks as MSU's all-time leader in scoring (352 career points), field goals (66 made) and extra points (154 made) and stands second in field-goal percentage (.776). In 2009, he ranks among the Big Ten leaders in field-goal percentage (tied for first at .875), scoring (first at 7.6 points per game) and field goals (tied for third at 1.4 made per game). Swenson leads the team in scoring with 76 points, converting 14-of-16 field-goal attempts and 34-of-35 extra-point tries. UPON FURTHER REVIEW - • Michigan State has outscored its opponents in each of the first three quarters (220-124 combined); however, the Spartans have been outscored 98-75 in the fourth quarter. The Spartans have been most explosive in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 76-37 (+39 points). • Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for eighth in the NCAA with 29 sacks. Conversely, MSU's offensive line has allowed just 12 sacks in 10 games, tied with Penn State for the second fewest in the Big Ten. • Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 15-3 (.833) when leading in time of possession, including a perfect 5-0 in 2009. • Sophomore wide receiver/kick returner Keshawn Martin is the only NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision player this season who has recorded 80-yard scoring plays in three different ways: 84-yard run vs. Minnesota, 91-yard reception from Keith Nichol vs. Wisconsin and 93-yard kickoff return vs. Minnesota. STAT LEADERS - Purdue (after 10 games): THE LAST MEETING - Ringer gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead with a fourth-down, 1-yard touchdown run on the Spartans' opening possession. The Spartans also were aided by a dominating defense. With just 9 seconds left in the first half, Michigan State cornerback Johnny Adams stepped in front of a Justin Siller pass and returned the interception 40 yards to give the Spartans a 14-0 halftime lead. Purdue, hampered by turnovers all season, never recovered. Ringer capped off a five-play, 61-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run early in the second half that gave Michigan State a 21-0 lead. Purdue avoided a shutout by scoring with less than 1 minute to play on Siller's 1-yard touchdown run. Purdue generated only 191 yards of total offense, as Siller was 13-of-30 for 83 yards and Kory Sheets had 93 rushing yards on 22 carries. Michigan State had 300 yards of offense, as quarterback Brian Hoyer went 10-of-22 for 154 yards with two interceptions. THE LAST MEETING IN ROSS-ADE STADIUM - Michigan State's Devin Thomas caught 10 passes for 116 yards, and Jehuu Caulcrick ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns. SirDarean Adams led Michigan State's defense with two interceptions. Purdue gained 517 yards, but had three costly turnovers. Curtis Painter passed for 344 yards, but he threw the picks to Adams, which led to 10 points. Purdue kicker Chris Summers made a 32-yard field goal to cut Michigan State's lead to 31-24 with 7:05 left in the third quarter. Michigan State ran a fake field goal late in the third quarter. Purdue got the stop, but Mike Neal was called for a 15-yard facemask penalty, giving the Spartans a first down at the Purdue 12. Brett Swenson kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it a 34-24 lead six seconds into the fourth quarter. Michigan State's Otis Wiley hit Purdue's Dorien Bryant after a catch and forced a fumble. Travis Key recovered and ran 20 yards for a touchdown to give the Spartans a 41-24 lead. Painter threw a screen pass to Sheets, and he turned it into a 41-yard touchdown that cut the Spartans' lead to 41-31 with 13:05 to play. Purdue appeared to have the Spartans stopped, but Caulcrick took the snap on a fake punt and ran for a first down. Hoyer's 3-yard touchdown pass to back-up tight end Eric Andino made it 48-31, Michigan State with 7:36 to play. Michigan State finished the first half strong. With the score tied at 21 in the second quarter, Caulcrick scored his second touchdown, a 1-yard run with 1:13 left in the first half, to give Michigan State a 28-21 lead. Painter threw his second interception in the closing seconds of the first half. Adams returned it to the Purdue 23, and Swenson made a 39-yard field goal to give the Spartans a 31-21 lead at the break. There were 45 points scored and 377 yards gained in the second quarter. MSU/PURDUE COACHING CONNECTIONS - • Purdue head coach Danny Hope spent the 2002 season as the assistant head coach/offensive line coach at Louisville, where he worked for former Michigan State head coach John L. Smith. • Michigan State offensive line coach Dan Roushar and Purdue linebackers coach Mark Hagen worked together at Northern Illinois (1998-99). Roushar served as the Huskies' offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, while Hagen coached the defensive tackles. • Michigan State running backs coach Dan Enos and Purdue wide receivers coach Brian Rock spent three years together at Western Michigan (2000-02) under Gary Darnell. Enos coached the Broncos' quarterbacks, while Rock worked with the wide receivers and tight ends. BOBBY McALLISTER NAMED HONORARY CAPTAIN - A two-year starter, McAllister quarterbacked the Spartans to a 15-7-2 record, including a 13-1-2 mark in Big Ten play, and back-to-back postseason bowl appearances. The Pompano Beach, Fla., native threw for 3,194 yards and 17 touchdowns in 37 career games. He also rushed for 677 career yards and seven TDs. As a junior, McAllister accounted for 1,469 total yards and 10 TDs while leading MSU to the 1987 Big Ten Championship and a 20-17 victory over USC in the 1988 Rose Bowl, as the Spartans finished No. 8 in the final polls. As a senior, he led the Big Ten in passing efficiency with his 138.8 rating. McAllister, who accounted for 1,757 total yards and 12 TDs in 1988, threw for a career-best 288 yards and three scores in a 34-27 loss to Georgia in the 1989 Gator Bowl. JONES NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR BUTKUS & BEDNARIK AWARDS - The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Jones ranks third in the NCAA FBS in tackles per game (11.7) and tied for 30th in sacks (0.75 per game). He also is listed among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (tied for third) and tackles for loss (eighth at 1.1 per game). Jones leads the team in tackles (117 total), tackles for loss (11.0 for 57 yards), sacks (7.5 for 47 yards) and production points (233). He became the first Spartan to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since 2003-04 when both linebacker Ronald Stanley and free safety Jason Harmon reached the milestone. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native has posted double-digit tackles in 14 of his last 17 games overall, averaging 11.9 stops (203 total) during that stretch. A model of consistency, Jones has led the team in tackles in 21 of the last 23 games. He was credited with a team-high eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks (13 yards), and a forced fumble in Michigan State's 49-14 victory over Western Michigan. The Spartans limited WMU to a season-low 211 total yards, as the Broncos went 0-for-13 on third-down conversions. Jones reached double-figure tackles for the seventh time this season at Minnesota, recording 12 stops including seven solo hits. He accounted for 12 tackles in Michigan State's 15-13 loss to No. 7 Iowa, including six solo stops. The Spartan defense limited Iowa to 276 total yards, nearly 75 yards below its season average.
Jones tallied 14 stops including a career-best two sacks (9 yards) in MSU's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern. The Spartan defense limited the Wildcats to just three first downs and 37 total yards in the third quarter as MSU scored 24 unanswered points en route to a 24-7 lead. He produced 11 tackles in MSU's 24-14 victory at Illinois, including a 6-yard sack. The Spartans built a 17-0 halftime lead at Illinois as the defense limited the Illini to three first downs and 60 total yards in the first half. Illinois' first eight possessions resulted in seven punts and one turnover. Jones posted 14 stops, including nine solo hits, in the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin. He made nine stops at Notre Dame, ending his streak of consecutive games with double-figure tackles at nine. Jones averaged 12.8 tackles during that nine-game stretch, and it marked the longest streak by a Spartan since Chuck Bullough produced double-digit tackles in 15 straight games in 1990-91 (Oct. 20, 1990, game vs. Illinois through Nov. 2, 1991, game vs. Northwestern). Bullough averaged 15.7 tackles during his 15-game streak. Jones matched his career high with 15 tackles against Central Michigan, including 1.5 for losses (3 yards). The 2009 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year registered 14 tackles in the season opener against Montana State, with three resulting in losses (16 yards) including 1.5 sacks (11). Jones has started 30 of 36 career games, including 24 consecutive starting assignments. He has 322 career tackles, including 33.5 for losses (128 yards) and 14.0 sacks (81 yards). Jones ranks fifth among NCAA FBS active leaders in tackles, averaging 8.9 stops per game. He ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles (14th) and tackles for loss (tied for fifth with Mike Labinjo, 2000-03). Jones has produced double-figure tackles 16 times in his career. GORDON PROVIDES STEADY PRODUCTION - He contributed six tackles and a pass break-up against Western Michigan and posted nine stops at Minnesota, including five solo hits. The 6-foot, 228-pound Gordon played especially well during Michigan State's three-game winning streak, averaging 9.3 tackles (28 total) during the stretch. He recorded a sack in each of those three victories (vs. Michigan, Illinois and Northwestern). Gordon recorded a career-best 14 tackles, including two for losses (8 yards), in MSU's 24-14 Homecoming win over Northwestern. He made six stops in the Spartans' 24-14 victory at Illinois, including two behind the line of scrimmage (8 yards). Gordon produced eight tackles, including 1.5 for losses (15 yards), in MSU's 26-20 overtime victory over No. 22 Michigan. The Traverse City, Mich., native has started 33 of 35 career games, including 24 consecutive starting assignments. Gordon has totaled 217 career tackles, with 22.5 resulting in losses (88 yards) including 7.5 sacks (55). SPARTANS FEATURE DEEP & TALENTED RECEIVING CORPS - WHITE KEYS EXPLOSIVE PASSING GAME - He paced the Spartans with six catches for 70 yards in MSU's 49-14 victory over Western Michigan. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound White caught three passes for 95 yards in MSU's 15-13 loss to No. 7 Iowa, including a 27-yard gain on a hook-and-lateral play late in the fourth quarter and a 25-yard TD grab from Kirk Cousins with 1:37 left that gave the Spartans' a 13-9 lead. White, who set career highs for receptions (12) and receiving yards (186) and matched his career-best with two touchdown receptions in the Spartans' 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, was selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He shared the honor with Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell. In addition to his selection as Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, White was named National Wide Receiver of the Week (shared honor with Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes) by the College Football Performance Awards. His 12 catches (fourth) and 186 receiving yards (10th) rank among the top single-game totals in Spartan history. In addition, his 186 receiving yards are the highest single-game figure in the Big Ten and the 18th-best single-game total in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. White scored on TD grabs of 22 and 47 yards from Cousins in the third quarter against the Wildcats. It marked White's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career. White led the Spartans with four catches for 50 yards in Michigan State's 24-14 victory at Illinois, including three grabs that resulted in first downs. He led the team with six receptions for 49 yards in MSU's 26-20 overtime victory over No. 22 Michigan. White caught six passes for 75 yards and two scores in MSU's 33-30 loss at Notre Dame. He scored on a 30-yard pass from wide receiver Keshawn Martin in the second quarter and a 17-yard strike from Cousins in the fourth quarter that gave the Spartans a 30-26 lead. The Saginaw, Mich., native recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game with seven catches for 105 yards against Central Michigan. He had a career-high nine receptions for 162 yards and two TDs in the 2009 season opener against Montana State. White scored on TD grabs of 15 and 24 yards from Cousins against the Bobcats. His 162 receiving yards were just 2 yards shy of his career best (164 vs. Wisconsin in 2008). Almost one-third of his receiving yards (51 of 162) came after the catch against Montana State. A former walk-on, White has 104 career receptions for 1,520 yards (14.6 avg.) and eight TDs. The Saginaw, Mich., native has caught at least one pass in 21 consecutive games. COUSINS OFF TO A SOLID START - Cousins ranks among NCAA FBS active leaders in passing efficiency (eighth with 148.8 career rating) and completion percentage (10th at 65.3). The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Cousins completed 88 percent (22 of 25) of his passes for a career-best 353 yards and two TDs in Michigan State's 49-14 victory over Western Michigan. His 353 passing yards rank as the seventh-best single-game total in Spartan history. It also marked Cousins' fourth-straight 200-yard passing game and his sixth of the season, as he eclipsed the 2,000-yard milestone. He completed passes to eight different receivers, including scoring strikes of 13 yards to Garrett Celek and 48 yards to Keshawn Martin. His 233.0 passing efficiency rating against Western Michigan is the best single-game figure in the Big Ten and the 17th-highest single-game total posted in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. Cousins connected on 21-of-35 passes for 236 yards, two TDs and an interception at Minnesota. He completed throws to nine different receivers, and his 35 pass attempts matched his career high (vs. Notre Dame, 2009). Against the Golden Gophers, Cousins threw TD passes of 26 yards to Brian Linthicum and 11 yards to Dion Sims. He hit 16-of-32 throws for 225 yards and a score, in Michigan State's 15-13 loss to No. 7 Iowa. Cousins compiled those numbers against an Iowa defensive unit that entered the game ranked second in the NCAA in pass defense, allowing just 167 yards per game. He threw for 143 yards in the second half against the Hawkeyes, and his 30-yard TD strike to Blair White gave the Spartans a 13-9 lead with 1:37 left in the game. Cousins completed 21-of-31 passes for 281 yards in Michigan State's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, including TD strikes of 22 and 47 yards to White. Cousins accounted for 227 total yards in Michigan State's 26-20 overtime victory over No. 22 Michigan. He hit 15-of-21 throws for 152 yards and two interceptions against the Wolverines. He also led the team in rushing, gaining 75 yards on seven carries. Cousins produced runs of 19 and 41 yards against the Wolverines. He recorded his second-straight 200-yard passing game, completing 17-of-34 passes for 201 yards, two TDs and an interception in the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin. Cousins completed scoring tosses of 14 yards to Mark Dell and 20 yards to B.J. Cunningham. He completed 23-of-35 throws for 302 yards, one TD and one interception in MSU's 33-30 loss at Notre Dame. Cousins set career highs for completions, attempts and passing yards against the Irish. His 302 passing yards mark the third-best single-game total by a Spartan quarterback against Notre Dame (Drew Stanton - 327 in 2005; Ed Smith - 306 in 1978). Cousins hit 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and a score in MSU's 29-27 loss to Central Michigan. With the score tied at 20, he went 5-for-5 for 59 yards on a 13-play, 80-yard drive as the Spartans took a 27-20 lead on his 35-yard TD strike to Cunningham with 7:33 left in the game. In his first career start, Cousins completed 10-of-17 throws for 183 yards and a career-best three scores against Montana State in the 2009 season and home opener. He completed TD strikes of 29 yards to Cunningham, and 15 and 24 yards to White. He connected on 7-of-11 passes for 118 yards and two TDs in the first half against the Bobcats. NICHOL PROVIDES A SPARK OFF THE BENCH - With Kirk Cousins sidelined with an ankle injury, Nichol made his first career start in a 24-14 victory at Illinois and accounted for 206 total yards. He completed 13-of-25 throws for 179 yards and rushed six times for 27 yards. His 23-yard completion to Mark Dell on a third-and-8 play kept Michigan State's game-opening drive alive that eventually resulted in a touchdown. Nichol had two fourth-down conversions on the Spartans' second TD drive, hitting Blair White for a 7-yard gain on fourth-and-3 and running 3 yards on fourth-and-1. He and Cousins combined to throw for 396 yards at Wisconsin, tying for the second-highest total in school history (396 yards vs. Purdue, 1998). Nichol hit 7-of-12 passes for a career-best 195 yards, two TDs and two interceptions against the Badgers. He completed TD strikes of 15 and 91 yards to Keshawn Martin in the fourth quarter. His 91-yard bomb to Martin ranks as the second-longest passing play in Spartan history (school-record 93-yarder from Tony Banks to Nigea Carter vs. Indiana in 1994), and it also ranks as the eighth-longest passing play recorded in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. Nichol's 216.5 passing efficiency rating against Wisconsin ranks as the 35th-highest single-game figure posted in the NCAA FBS this season. In his Spartan debut against Montana State, Nichol completed 9-of-18 throws for 135 yards and two TDs (26 yards to Dion Sims and 3 yards to Brian Linthicum). SWENSON REWRITES SPARTAN RECORD BOOK - The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Swenson already ranks as MSU's all-time leader in scoring (352 career points), field goals (66 made) and extra points (154 made) and stands second in field-goal percentage (.776). He also ranks among the Big Ten's all-time leaders in field goals (sixth), kick scoring (seventh), extra points (tied for seventh) and total points (ninth). In 2009, Swenson ranks among the Big Ten leaders in field-goal percentage (tied for first at .875), scoring (first at 7.6 points per game) and field goals (tied for third at 1.4 made per game). He leads the team in scoring with 76 points, converting 14-of-16 field-goal attempts and 34-of-35 extra-point tries. Swenson made nine consecutive field goals during one six-game stretch (Sept. 26 Wisconsin-Oct. 31 Minnesota). The Pompano Beach, Fla., native kicked seven extra points in a 49-14 victory over Western Michigan to become Michigan State's all-time leader with 154 career PATs, breaking the record previously held by Dave Rayner (148 made, 2001-04). Swenson tallied 10 points at Minnesota, hitting a pair of 20-yard field goals and all four extra-point attempts. He accounted for seven points in MSU's 15-13 loss to No. 7 Iowa to become the school's all-time leading scorer, breaking the mark previously held by Rayner (334 points). Swenson also became MSU's all-time leader in field goals, hitting from 34 and 23 yards against the Hawkeyes. With his 34-yard field goal in the first quarter, he broke the school record that he previously shared with Rayner (62 made). He scored eight points in Michigan State's 26-20 overtime win over No. 22 Michigan, hitting 2-of-2 field-goal attempts (from 26 and 24 yards) and both extra-point tries. Swenson accounted for 11 points in MSU's season-opening 44-3 victory over Montana State, hitting 2-of-2 field-goal attempts and all five PATs. With his first two extra points against Notre Dame, Swenson tied Rayner's (2003-04) school record with 76 consecutive PATs; however, his third attempt was blocked by the Irish. BATES IMPACTS FIELD POSITION - The 6-foot, 192-pound junior averaged 43.5 yards on four punts at Minnesota, including a 51-yarder. He averaged 42.8 yards on six punts against No. 7 Iowa, including two kicks downed inside the Hawkeye 20 in the first half. Bates averaged 38.1 yards on seven punts at Illinois, including three kicks placed inside the Illini 20. On two of those three possessions that started inside its own 20, Illinois went three-and-out. He averaged 43.0 yards on three punts against No. 22 Michigan, including two kicks downed inside the Wolverine 10-yard line. Bates averaged 45.0 yards on three punts at Notre Dame, including two kicks downed inside the Irish 20-yard line. He averaged 45.6 yards on five punts against Central Michigan, including four kicks downed inside the Chippewa 20. He ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in punting average (seventh at 41.2) and punting yards (ninth at 7,660). Bates has placed 62 of his 186 career punts (33 percent) inside the opponent's 20. THREE SPARTANS NAMED TO ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM - As an Academic All-District First-Team selection, White's name now appears on the national ballot for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors (released Nov. 24). To be nominated for the Academic All-District Team, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his career. He also must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing. District 4 includes all schools from the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. Three other MSU student-athletes were nominated for the Academic All-District Football Team: junior punter Aaron Bates (general management, 3.95), sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins (kinesiology, 3.74), and red-shirt sophomore quarterback Keith Nichol (general business administration/pre-law, 3.55). |
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