Michigan State picked up it’s sixth commitment of the 2013 class on Monday from Shane Jones, Inside Linebacker from Cincinnati Moeller high school. Jones makes the third defensive commitment and the second inside linebacker. Jones committed to MSU over offers from Michigan, Penn State and Oklahoma as well as a host of other schools who recruit the midwest. Noticeably absent from the list of suitors was Ohio State, Urbz is going to Urbz himself some “better talent”.

Jones is rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and three stars by 247 and Scout. Scout had this to say about Jones: “Uses solid technique along with agility and speed to shed blockers making plays sideline to sideline. Capable of playing all linebacker spots and shows good recoil in upper and lower body giving him above average power from a player who stands 6-foot tall. Above average hip turn and foot quickness allows him to get depth and width. Has the speed to blitz and post bigger sack totals. Needs to continue work on hands to finish plays on the ball.”

Above average power, versatility and the tools to be good in pass coverage? Yes please.

A Predictor of Future Success is YOUtube

I really wish this video was a couple minutes longer, he really showed some pass coverage skill and a bit of the Denicos Allen missil-ey-ness you’ve come to know and love. But this is a short video and that’s really my primary knock on it, not enough here to show how he plays against the run.

Predictions for 2013 and Beyond

Michigan State has signed three prospects from Cincinnati Moeller since Mark Dantonio came to MSU. Two, Greg Jones and Marcus Rush will finish as solid, heady players that gave opposing offenses fits. Monty Madaris comes in as one of MSU’s talented freshmen for the class of 2012 at the Wide Receiver position. Jones shows some of that same heads-up play that we’re coming to expect from Moeller kids. That said, figuring out when he sees the field is pretty difficult, there’s a logjam at LB right now which will be only more entropic if Allen or Bullough leave after 2013.

In short, he’ll play. When is impossible to tell right now.

Bonus Bits

Maxwell suffered a sprained knee in practice and may be done for the Spring according to Rexrode. This is the part where I fuss about how Mumphery has been hurt and Fowler has been day-to-day since 2010 and Sims was hurt but now isn’t, but could very well be again. I’m not worried about any one of these injuries specifically, but more that how is a team supposed to build chemistry when it can’t even keep the same QB and WR’s on the field? It’s the chemistry that I’m fussing about.

Bonus Academic Question: If Cook is the number 1 for the Spring game, who plays QB for the other team. I vote Connor Cook for all-time quarterback in that situation.