Update from Tuesday, Aug. 24 practice

Hey everyone, this is Denny Schwarze filling in for Joe Rexrode. I've been serving as the Michigan State football reporter for the last week while Joe is home with the newborn and now I've taken over his blog too. I haven't blogged much, so this responsibility is a mighty one. Let's get to a few tidbits from today's practice and some position updates:

First, it looks like William Gholston has found a position a little quicker than some may have thought. Gholston will play as a defensive end, according to head coach Mark Dantonio. This is good news for Spartan fans, as Gholston will see more immediate playing time at that position than he would at the linebacker spot. This is bad news if you had Gholston over Mark Dell and Mylan Hicks in your "Which Spartan will end up wearing jersey #2" pool. A numerical change may be in order now that Gholston is playing on the D-line, which would put a damper on the "Too Tall" nickname/number association. But hey, he still stands 6 feet, 7 inches.

Dantonio also explained that sophomore nose tackle Blake Treadwell is hurt and has been held out of practice. This has been a lingering thing as he did not practice when the team went down to Ford Field last week. The coaching staff wants to see if he can go at the end of this week, but will wait until Monday if he can't. This could open the door for Kevin Pickelman to get some more reps. Pickelman appeared in 12 games last year and started against Western Michigan as well as the Alamo Bowl game against Texas Tech. Anthony Rashad White could see some increased action as well.

Le'Veon Bell has really caught the eye of the coaches. It's going to come down to Bell and safety Isaiah Lewis for the biggest impact freshman in 2010, but my pick is Bell. The runningback has the "look of a Big Ten back" according to offensive coordinator Don Treadwell. A freshman listed at 6'2, 230 pounds definitely meets the standard of a bruising Big Ten runningback and Bell could see situational time in short yardage downs, much like Dantonio and Treadwell used Jehuu Caulcrick. It's looking like Bell and fellow freshman runningback Nick Hill will get their chances because they enrolled early and are comfortable in the offensive scheme despite being so young.

Speaking of Lewis, secondary coach Harlon Barnett said that the freshman safety from Indianapolis has "separated himself" in the Nickel and said that "he's earned it". High praise for a freshman. Barnett said this is the best freshmen defensive back crop he's had in seven years on the staff. If the Spartans add highly-touted corner recruit Doran Grant or former Orchard Lake St. Mary's star and rumored Florida State transfer Dionte Allen, this could be a great unit in years to come.

The kicker competition is still wide open. Dantonio said if he had only Dan Conroy or Kevin Muma on his roster that he'd be comfortable with them. Muma said Mike Sadler is no longer competing for the starting kicker spot but finds his punting left-footed, kicking right-footed style very intriguing.

I reported over the weekend that MSU scored a verbal commitment from a center recruit named Jack Allen out of Hinsdale, Illinois. Getting a verbal from this kid was huge considering Iowa and Wisconsin had also offered him. When you look at the type of talent those two schools churn out from the offensive line (First round picks Robert Gallery, Bryan Bulaga and Joe Thomas), it's a tribute to the coaching staff and the university that the kid decided to give a verbal commitment to the program. The Scout.com regional editor I talked to for the story said this was a huge get for MSU. The Spartans may be close to another offensive line verbal, as offensive tackle Donavon Clark of Finneytown, Ohio is expected to choose between MSU, Tennessee and Cincinnati this week.

I'll leave you with this, this upcoming Saturday is the last Saturday we'll have without college football until the middle of December. 

Take care everyone.