Copeland, Sweat, Evans all a go for Spring

[johnny2x2x]

Great news! Those are 3 starters on the defense and they're all ready to play and in good standing.

Malik McDowell's right hand was in a cast though.

http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index...state_notes_vayante_c.html#incart_more_sports

This is a huge, Evans was our 2nd best DT last season and a default starter, he's a load and if he makes any gains at all he will threat All Big Ten. Copeland is the next 1st round draft pick DB from here. And Sweat and Cooper are uber talented and athletic as pass rushing DEs.

Whatever McDowell's hand injury is, you'd think it would be healed in at most a few months. Solid news all around. This, along with Knox, Davis, and Clemens all likely getting 6th years and this team is going to be right there to earn another trip to Indy. While we lost some of the star power off the team, this year's squad might end up being deeper than last year's.

 

[Sbee]

Defense will be stout, Copeland and Davis returning are huge for this team. Obviously the passing game is the unknown but I like the make up of this team

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Defense will be stout, Copeland and Davis returning are huge for this team. Obviously the passing game is the unknown but I like the make up of this team

I have to think we go with oconnor. The times he played even before OSU he played well.

 

[Sbee]

I have to think we go with oconnor. The times he played even before OSU he played well.

Leave it open. Terry played at osu as well, hurt his ankle. If they're close on the field of say go with the junior, don't want to break a new qb in 2 and potentially 3 straight years.

 

[Sbee]

Also, I checked another source and it's not 100% that sweat and Evans are back, sounds like parameters have to be met.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Word is McDowell had a cast yesterday, but got it off today. Tore something in his thumb vs Bama.

 

[Sbee]

FYI Copeland and Finley practiced in pads with no yellow jersey yesterday, sounds like both are ago, Copleand is 100%, Finley might be held out of a few drills and he admitted that the injury is in the back of his mind but he's in a good spot for March.

Also, Jalen Watts-Jackson back and making plays in practice. he's still 3rd string but good to be back after a hip injury

 

[Sbee]

Some great quotes from Copeland that really exemplify the quiet confidence and humility of our program

With size, speed and the demeanor necessary thrive on an island, Copeland has been compared to former Spartan stars and NFL 1st rounders Trae Waynes (Minnesota Vikings) and Darqueze Dennard (Cincinnati Bengals).

For his part, however, Copeland downplays the comparisons that have been made between him and former Dantonio era stars.

?Darqueze is his own player, man,? he said. ?He set stepping stones here that are hard to compare with. I don?t compare myself to him, because he?s his own person. He won the Jim Thorpe Award and everything. I model some of my game after him because I look up to him on and off the field, but I?m just happy to be out there.?

Copeland also downplays the notion that he is the missing ingredient for a good defense to become potentially great in 2015.

?I am not the key man, I am just a guy trying to help my team,? he said. ?I get compared to that, but I haven?t done anything yet. When I do something like that, then maybe I?ll look at myself as something. Until then, I am just trying to get myself better, better my craft.?

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

I like Copeland a lot. On and off the field. I said it last year when the season started and he was shutting people down that he was better than Trae Waynes and I think he could be better than Dennard.

 

[johnny2x2x]

I like Copeland a lot. On and off the field. I said it last year when the season started and he was shutting people down that he was better than Trae Waynes and I think he could be better than Dennard.

Copeland looks like a great one in the making, he's faster than Dennard, but not as fast as Waynes, but he's bigger than either.