MSU lands well-regarded football class

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State signed what many analysts consider one of its best football recruiting classes of at least the past decade Wednesday.

It's another sign of momentum for the Spartans, who have posted back-to-back winning seasons under coach Mark Dantonio.

The 23 players who signed with Michigan State will be incoming freshman next season for a Big Ten program that has been in bowl games for consecutive seasons for the first time in more than a decade. The Spartans have a balanced 2009 recruiting class that could be strongest at running back, linebacker and offensive line.

Rivals.com ranked Michigan State's incoming class 15th in the nation and third best in the Big Ten, trailing only Ohio State and Michigan, as of late Wednesday afternoon.

Scout.com ranked the Spartans' class 36th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten behind Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan.

"Without question we've had an outstanding class this year," Dantonio said. "They will be judged continuously through the next four years. What we have to do now is develop them."

Michigan State, needing to replace departing All-America Javon Ringer, signed running backs Edwin Baker of Highland Park and Larry Caper of Battle Creek. Both could compete for playing time as freshmen.

"Michigan State did an excellent job of targeting the top talent in Michigan and getting a lot of those players," said Allen Trieu, Scout.com recruiting analyst. "With Javon Ringer graduating, they really needed help at running back and they got it with Caper and Baker."

Other potential weapons on offensive include tight end Dion Sims of Pittsfield Township and wide receivers Bennie Fowler of Bloomfield and Donald Spencer of Ypsilanti.

Four offensive linemen were added in this year's class including David Barrent of Clive, Iowa, and Nate Klatt of Clinton, Ohio.

Michigan State added quarterback Andrew Maxwell of Midland as a potential backup behind Kirk Cousins or Keith Nichol, one of whom is expected to replace Brian Hoyer as the Spartans starter next season.

The Spartans bolstered its defensive with three linebackers: Chris Norman and Jeremy Gainer of Detroit and TyQuan Hammock of Fort Wayne, Ind.

The class includes at least four players who could play defensive back and four who could play defensive end or defensive tackle.

One of the defensive tackles is Blake Treadwell of East Lansing, son of Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell. Dantonio is Blake Treadwell's godfather.

"He's got a motor that doesn't stop," Dantonio said of the 6-foot-3, 270-pound lineman.

Michigan State signed 12 players from Michigan schools and recruited well in Detroit. The Spartans also signed seven players from Ohio, where Dantonio -- a former Cincinnati head coach and Ohio State assistant -- has deep roots.

Michigan State signed two players from Florida, defense end Denzel Drone of Plant City and safety Jairus Jones of Tampa.

Jones is the son of former Detroit Lions fullback James Jones.

Associated Press Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.