Dantonio: MSU's 'drama' takes place on the field

EAST LANSING -- Overshadowed by others as usual on National Signing Day, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio told the Big Ten Network today that this is just the start of a process that has brought MSU championships in recent years.

"Well you know, we're staring at a lot of trophies around here too," Dantonio told Lisa Byington as they stood in front of MSU's board listing today's signees. "So that's the bottom line. And I think sometimes on days like this, people forget that the bottom line here is you need to win football games and compete for championships. And we're doing that on a regular basis here. And these guys are gonna help us do that on a consistent basis for the next five years. And that's the important thing here. And I think we've got to continue to remind ourselves that these guys, where they start is one aspect of it. Where they finish is another."

MSU commit Auston Robertson faces charges, doesn't sign

MSU has signed all of its verbal commitments except defensive end Auston Robertson of Fort Wayne, Ind., who is facing legal trouble and whose status with MSU in the future is uncertain. His omission has hurt MSU's ranking, but this is still expected to end up a top-20 class.

Asked about a relatively quiet day for MSU compared with other schools, Dantonio said: "Our drama seems to take place during the season, I guess. But today is an exciting day. It's sort of the accumulation of a lot of people working very hard. Our staff has done a tremendous job reaching out to a lot of people at the different high schools, who have really done an outstanding job with their particular student-athlete. And then the families of our student-athletes get to enjoy in the success of their sons. And then for that player, it's a special day. It's that day it finally sort of becomes final. They're in, they're done, they're part of a class and I think that's a very important day in a lot of people's lives."

Dantonio said MSU's "numbers are just right" in terms of scholarships, and that's including the expectation that linebacker Ed Davis, defensive tackle Damon Knox and offensive lineman Brandon Clemons all will be granted sixth years of eligibility for 2016.

Follow live: National Signing Day 2016

MSU also started winter conditioning this week, and Dantonio was impressed with some of the members of the 2016 class who have enrolled early.

"Some of them really, really did well," he said. "I thought all of them showed signs of great flexibility. Donnie Corley ran like a champion, he was amazing out there."