SPARTAN COACHING STAFF Terrence Samuel, a 15-year coaching veteran who played his collegiate football at Purdue, is in his third year as wide receivers coach at Michigan State.
TERRENCE SAMUEL WIDE RECEIVERS THIRD SEASON
After a record-breaking season in 2011, Samuel had the difficult challenge of restocking MSU’s receiving corps as only 23 percent of the team’s receptions and 16 percent of the team’s receiving yards returned in 2012. The young Spartans – featuring four new fulltime starters and no seniors – improved significantly as the season progressed. Michigan State was the only team in the Big Ten to feature six players with at least 29 receptions, and three receivers recorded their first career touchdown catch.
Sophomore Keith Mumphery led MSU in receptions (42) and ranked second in receiving yards (515), while junior Bennie Fowler ranked first on the team in TD catches (4) and receiving yards (524), and second in receptions (41). True freshman Aaron Burbridge, who ranked fifth on the team in receiving yards (364) and sixth in receptions (29), was named to Big Ten All-Freshman Team by ESPN.com and BTN.com. Burbridge set an MSU single-game record for a freshman with 134 receiving yards on eight catches at Indiana. After spending a majority of the 2011 season at cornerback, sophomore Tony Lippett returned to concentrate on offense in 2012 and finished with 36 catches for 392 yards. Samuel made an immediate impact at MSU in his first season. He helped tutor fifthyear senior B.J. Cunningham, who became the school’s all-time leader in receptions (218) and receiving yards (3,086). Under Samuel, Cunningham had his finest season as a Spartan, setting career highs in receptions (79), receiving yards (1,306) and touchdown catches (12). Those marks also ranked among MSU’s single-season leaders in receptions (tied for first), receiving yards (third) and touchdowns (tied for third). In addition, he set an MSU single-season record with eight 100-yard receiving games. Cunningham was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, and also earned All-America honors from Phil Steele (fourth team) and SI.com (honorable mention). Senior Keshawn Martin, an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick, also produced his best year, recording career highs in receptions (66) and receiving yards (777). A multidimensional threat, Martin finished his career ranked second in MSU history in punt return yards (659), eighth in kick return yards (1,100), 10th in all-purpose yards (4,013), 11th in receptions (127), 16th in receiving yards (1,714) and tied for 17th in touchdown pass receptions (10). Cunningham (79 catches) and Martin (66) combined for 145 receptions in 2011, the most ever by a receiving duo in a Michigan State season (previous record: 124 by Charles Rogers (67) and Herb Haygood (57) in 2001). Cunningham (1,306 yards) and Martin (777) also produced the most receiving yards of any receiving duo in an MSU season, teaming up for 2,083 receiving yards in 2011 (previous record: Plaxico Burress (1,142) and Gari Scott (843) with 1,985 receiving yards in 1998). Both of those marks by Cunningham and Martin (145 receptions; 2,083 receiving yards) ranked first among receiving duos in the Big Ten in 2011. Martin was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 National Football League Draft by the Houston Texas, while Cunningham was picked in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins. For Samuel’s complete bio, please visit msuspartans.com.
THE SAMUEL FILE
Mark Staten is in his seventh year on the coaching staff at Michigan State and his third as the offensive line coach. He was promoted to offensive line coach in February 2011 after serving as the tight ends/ tackles coach and recruiting coordinator for four years. Staten adds a mix of professional playing experience with a solid coaching background. Michigan State had to deal with multiple injuries throughout the first half of 2012, including the loss of starting right tackle Fou Fonoti and center Travis Jackson. The Spartans used six different starting combinations along the offensive line, but still MARK STATEN managed to pave the way for first-team All-Big Ten OFFENSIVE LINE selection Le’Veon Bell, who led the Big Ten and SEVENTH SEASON ranked third in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing, averaging 137.9 yards per game. The line showed signs of improvement toward the end of the season, as Bell averaged 183.0 rushing yards when the Spartans used the same starting five up front for the last four games. For the second-straight season, Staten mentored a Freshman All-American, as Jack Allen earned first-team honors from both Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. Allen started five games at left guard, then started the last seven games of the season at center while replacing Jackson, who earned Freshman All-America honors in 2011. In addition, senior right guard Chris McDonald, the only Spartan offensive lineman to start every game last season, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades for the second straight year. He closed his career by starting in 30 consecutive games. Heading into 2011, Michigan State’s offensive line had to replace three starters, but Staten helped mold a young group that featured just one senior starter into one of the best in the Big Ten. Although the Spartans had to use four different starting combinations on the offensive line, including three different starting centers, the unit allowed just 16 sacks, second-fewest in the Big Ten and 19th-fewest in the FBS. Fifth-year senior Joel Foreman, who anchored the line from left guard, garnered firstteam All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and media to become MSU’s first All-Big Ten first-team selection on the offensive line since 2004. Foreman also received national recognition, getting named on All-America teams by Yahoo! Sports (second team), Phil Steele (third team) and SI.com (honorable mention). He started more games (49) on the offensive line than any other Spartan in school history and tied the school record for most starts at any position. As tight ends/tackles coach, Staten’s players collected All-Big Ten honors on seven occasions, including second-team tackle Pete Clifford (2007), second-team tackle Jesse Miller (2008), second-team tight end Charlie Gantt (2010) and second-team tackle D.J. Young (2010). In addition, Staten also helped Kellen Davis have his most productive year as a Spartan in 2007. Davis, a fifth-round NFL Draft pick by the Chicago Bears, recorded career highs in receptions (32), receiving yards (513) and touchdowns (6) as a senior, and recently completed his fifth season playing for the Bears. As recruiting coordinator, Staten helped put together a 2009 recruiting class that analysts ranked among the nation’s Top 25 (MaxPreps/Tom Lemming No. 12, PrepStar No. 15, Rivals.com No. 17 and Scouts, Inc. No. 21). The Spartans followed that effort with another stellar class in 2010 that was ranked among the nation’s Top 30 (MaxPreps/Tom Lemming No. 22, Rivals.com No. 29). For Staten’s complete bio, please visit msuspartans.com.
YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Third. Joined staff on Feb. 11, 2011, from Central Michigan. PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College – Graduate assistant coach at Nebraska-Omaha (1998-2000); graduate assistant coach at Arizona (2001-02); defensive backs coach (2003-04) and outside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator (2005) at Nebraska-Omaha; wide receivers at Southeast Missouri State (2006); the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Nebraska-Omaha (2007); wide receivers coach at North Dakota State (2008-09); wide receivers coach at Central Michigan (2010). EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in communication and psychology from Purdue in 1995; master’s degree in recreation administration from Nebraska-Omaha in 2001.
THE STATEN FILE YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Seventh. Joined staff on Nov. 30, 2006, from Cincinnati. PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College – Graduate assistant coach at MiamiOhio (2001); graduate assistant coach at Ohio State (2002-03); tight ends/tackles and recruiting coordinator at Cincinnati (2004-06). EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Miami-Ohio in 2001.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - Four-year letterwinner as a wide receiver at Purdue (1991-94).
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College – Four-year starter as a defensive tackle at MiamiOhio (1989-92). Professional – Spent parts of two seasons in the National Football League, with the Cincinnati Bengals (1993) and New England Patriots (1993-94).
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach – 2000 NCAA Division II Playoffs, 2005 NCAA Division II Playoffs, 2007 NCAA Division II Playoffs, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach – 2003 Fiesta, 2004 Fiesta, 2004 Fort Worth, 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.
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