Rexrode: Now we know names; which will play first?

EAST LANSING – Now that our national holiday built on fawning, preening and unnecessary hat purchasing is over, let’s talk about the young names to watch at Michigan State in 2016.

Justice Alexander, Robert Bowers, Josh Butler, David Dowell, Kaleel Gaines, Tyler Higby, Cassius Peat, Enoch Smith Jr., Matt Sokol, Kyonta Stallworth, Darrell Stewart, Tyriq Thompson, Raequan Williams … not what you were expecting?

In the world of recruiting (crootin’) enthusiasts (fiends) who just want information (digital opium), those are washed-up names. Names from past signing days who didn’t explode immediately.

In the real world, some of those names will be very important to Mark Dantonio’s program in the near future. Some of those players may catch or surpass some of the true freshmen who contributed to MSU’s Big Ten championship team of 2015 – Felton Davis, Andrew Dowell, Grayson Miller, LJ Scott, Tyson Smith and Khari Willis.

Football career paths follow various trajectories, and early playing time doesn’t always mean a lot. But you still want to know which of MSU’s 2016 signees are going to play right away, right?

Fine, lecture over, here they are ranked in order – from most likely to contribute, to most likely to be listed a year from now to remind you they exist.

1. Bradley Robinson. He’s the new long snapper, so I’d say he’s playing.
2. Donnie Corley. The ability was obvious, and there’s already too much buzz about his work ethic and performance in workouts to ignore. Receivers coach Terry Samuel said he went from predicting Corley would throw up on the first day to enjoying him “make a statement” instead.
3. Josh King. It’s an obvious position of need and a 6-foot-6, 255-pound body to fill it. King is the top-rated prospect from Illinois and has a wrestling background, and defensive line coach Ron Burton said King has “tremendous upside, with the ability only to get bigger.”
4. Cam Chambers. The other early-enrolled receiver is solid at 203 pounds and will have the edge of a few months of learning on campus.
5. Justin Layne. But Samuel said Layne, the top-rated receiver from Ohio, is flat-out the fastest of the incoming receivers.
6. Trishton Jackson. And then there’s Jackson, rounding out the quartet of “four-star” players at a top position of need. At least two of them will play, maybe more. Jackson has more learning of the position to do, but as West Bloomfield’s quarterback he should have a global grasp.
7. Naquan Jones. At 6-4, 320 and with what Burton described as a nice mix of power and quick feet, Jones has a shot at the interior rotation.
8. Mike Panasiuk. The other “four-star” defensive tackle from Illinois, Panasiuk was the strongest player at The Opening over the summer, which Dantonio said “would probably make you the strongest person in high school football.” It would be surprising if Jones and Panasiuk both played as freshmen.
9. Austin Andrews. Now we’re getting into likely redshirt territory. Harlon Barnett clearly likes Andrews as a cornerback, and the race there will be heated, so anything is possible.
10. Thiyo Lukusa. This is high for an offensive lineman, but Lukusa enrolled early and MSU recruited him for years based on his size and agility.
11. (tie) Kenney Lyke and Demetric Vance. Barnett said the safeties are “vicious” and “headhunters,” and he said it with a smile. But barring something unforeseen, MSU should be set at safety next season.
12. 13.(tie) Matt Allen, AJ Arcuri and Luke Campbell. True, Brian Allen played right away, but Matt Allen can probably redshirt. Arcuri and Campbell both will get looks on defense as well.
13. 16. (tie). Joe Bachie and Brandon Randle. Here’s where early playing time and long-term impact can have nothing to do with each other. Bachie is a shortstop, point guard and cut-up middle linebacker (!) Dantonio called Randle a “five-star player,” and Mike Tressel used the word “special.” But this depth chart has no apparent need for freshmen at linebacker.
14. 18. Reid Burton. The walk-on and son of Ron Burton was hurt as a senior at East Lansing High, but fullback’s an open – and important – competition.
15. 19. Noah Davis. MSU has tight end depth. But with Josiah Price and Jamal Lyles as seniors, is there value in getting a freshman some snaps?
16. 20. Mufi Hunt. A redshirt makes sense as Hunt comes back from a knee injury, intent on being careful.
17. 21. Messiah deWeaver. Hopes are high – Dantonio said “you can already see what he's going to do just by the way you watch him carry himself” – but the quarterback should redshirt.
18. 22. Matt Coghlin. Unless something drastic happens with kicker Michael Geiger, Coghlin won’t be active.

Please tweet this at me after a Hunt sack, deWeaver pass to Davis and Coghlin field goal lead MSU to a comeback win over Northwestern on Oct. 15.