My take from Mark Dantonio’s signing day presser

EAST LANSING — As one hoping for a plethora of catchphrases, Mark Dantonio’s signing day presser Wednesday afternoon was a colossal disappointment.

Only one “tremendous upside” comes to memory, a few lines about “investing in people,” but MSU’s football coach showed extraordinary restraint.

I do leave this afternoon more convinced than ever that the coaches are hoping one of the freshman running backs arrives ready to carry a heavy load.

Dantonio said they played to keep Erie, Pa., athlete Delton Williams on defense, pegging him to be a star linebacker, but when Le’Veon Bell left for the NFL, those plans changed.

Williams and Gerald Holmes are both big backs, with good pedigrees. I’d be stunned if one of them isn’t seeing a chunk of carries this fall.

There were also bunch of questions about Williams’ high school teammate, QB prospect Damion Terry, who has hinted a discussion with MSU’s coaches about being part of a two-quarterback system.

Both Dantonio and QBs coach Dave Warner said today that much will depend on how he looks those first two weeks and Warner acknowledged how difficult it is for a freshman to win that job, especially in this quarterback-driven offense (meaning the QB actually has to think before the snap, unlike many spread attacks).

There was no drama today, as there was a year ago with Monty Madaris, who wavered late. All 18 faxes were in before noon.

247Sports ranked MSU’s class 33rd nationally and fifth in the Big Ten. Dantonio dismissed the rankings, saying it’s more how you finish.

He did, however, tout the No. 1 ranking of kicker Michael Geiger. So, where it’s convenient …

But all coaches do that. The bottom line is you never know about a class for three or four years.

Look for more coverage later at LSJ.com.

Time for hoops.