Spartan Football Plays Host to Over 250 Potential Recruits for Today’s One Day Camp. We Spoke with Some of the Biggest Names and Parents to Get Their Impressions in this Spartan Nation Exclusive!

Written by: Hondo S. Carpenter Sr. on 11th July 2009

Mark Dantonio and his staff started the weekend with a big bang when they got two commitments on Friday from two Ohio offensive linemen within 12 hours of each other. Today they woke up with some of the best 2010 prospects in the nation at the Duffy for a big camp.

Two young men who Coach Dantonio and the Spartans have offered were on campus today, DB Christian Bryant and DE Jayrone Elliott. The Spartan Nation spoke to them after the camp.

The big powerful Elliott came away impressed, “It was real nice. It was great here. I will be back on October third when they play Michigan. I am from Ohio and I understand what that game means and I am going to be there for sure.”

When we visited with Elliott at his home in Cleveland (you can see that video interview here) he said that he had eliminated other schools and it was down to Michigan State and Cincinnati. So I asked him if this was still a two horse race for his commitment? “They (MSU) are for sure my number one school. I can see myself playing there without a doubt.”

Did he make a commitment this weekend? “No, but when I make my decision, the coaches from the school I pick and I will keep it quiet so I can announce it at the All American game, but they will know before that.” Elliott wouldn’t confirm on the record what his choice will be, but whichever school he picks they will be fortunate. He is a fine football player and fine young man.

DB Christian Bryant was impressed also. He had talked to us from his home in Euclid, Ohio, last week about the last time he was on campus and the fact that the facilities were not completed. You can see that video interview by clicking on this link.

So what did he think? “I absolutely love it. I just liked the whole experience and I loved the new facilities and environment, the coaches everything. They showed me so much love. They took me in and we watched film and how I would be able to help and play. Coach Narduzzi and Dantonio are amazing.” I asked him the same question that I did Elliott. He has a lot of teams after his services and where does MSU stand? “I will make my choice in December, and I ain’t got no list by numbers, but I will say that MSU has moved way up to the top.” Bryant had talked to Spartan Nation last week about finding the right school and how he would know because of how he felt after his visits. So I asked. Christian how did it feel? “It felt like home.”

Also in attendance was DB Seth Cunningham from St. Edwards in Ohio. He is the speedster who has interest from all over the nation and desperately wants that MSU offer. “I loved it. I loved seeing all the brand new facilities and all the coaches loved me like I was already there and I haven’t been offered yet. That place is 5 star. I really want that offer and to be a Spartan.” Here is the video link to the interview I did with Cunningham last week.

His father, Bill, who has been a hands-on father throughout the process, was impressed with MSU also. “This staff and commitment to the kids and academic excellence is incredible. Those facilities are second to none. Anywhere.”

Joining Glennville talent Jayrone Elliot and Christian Bryant was fellow teammate Latwan Anderson. Some had said that WVU was far and away his leader and although he is impressed with the Mountaineers, he left East Lansing today excited. “They (WVU and MSU) are right there together as number one and two. Either way, I now just have to decide which one is right for me to make the decision. MSU was all that I expected. That is a great place.” Here is the link to the video interview with Anderson from last week.

Anderson’s father, Louis Stevens, was with his son today. He had told SpartanNation.com when we were with him last week in Medina, Ohio, that he wanted a school for his son that wasn’t joking about school and character being first. The Spartan staff impressed him today. “Better than expected is the best way to describe it. I had heard so much that I was almost prepared that it couldn’t be as good as I had thought. It was even better. I went up not concerned about the facilities, but about the coaches and their commitment to things other than football and was excited that both exceeded my expectations.”

I asked Stevens, who has seen his son garner so much national attention, what it was that surprised him? “Every coach there, not just the head coach, say the same things. They knew each kid. I was really surprised that from the time we arrived and left with all of the kids there that everyone got so much attention. I was tremendously impressed with how coach Dantonio got on the field and worked with all the kids. He wasn’t just there; he was out coaching on the field. He talked with every parent and every kid and not just a hello. He is a coach. You could see it. He wasn’t standing around letting his staff do it all, he was in there and treating each kid and person like a star. He and all his staff really impressed me.”

Stevens had told me prior to the camp, “I want to get a feel myself. I have to go to a school and feel for myself. Am I comfortable with this place for my son?” So I asked him the natural question as he left East Lansing today. Was it? “Yes it was. With what I learned today I could be real comfortable if this was where Latwan wanted to play football.”

Spartan Nation will stay on top of recruiting and will get you even more information as we get it. Overall, it was a good day for the Spartan Nation. You can click on this link for a complete list of the nine current commitments that the Spartans have for the 2010 class.

Topics: Christian Bryant, Dan Roushar, DAVE WARNER, Don Treadwell, Jayrone Elliott, Ken Mannie, Latwan Anderson, Mark Dantonio, Mark Staten, Michigan State, Michigan State Football, MSU Football, MSU Recruiting, Pat Narduzzi, Spartan Football