college gameday
A few short seasons ago, Larry Caper and Kevin Pickelman both were standouts on the local high school scene, stars on their respective teams on Friday nights.
Today, both will be standouts on the college football scene, looking to become stars on the same team on Saturday afternoons throughout the fall.
Caper, a Battle Creek Central grad, and Pickelman, a Marshall High grad, will both run out onto Spartan Stadium today and are expected to be on the field the majority of the time, playing for Michigan State University.
MSU opens its season against Montana State today at Spartan Stadium for a noon start.
The Battle Creek area hasn't had a player become a regular starter at Michigan State since 2001 when Marshall's Ryan Van Dyke was in the quarterback rotation.
This season the area has two players wearing green and white to root for.
Caper is among a small handful of running backs looking to take over for Javon Ringer at MSU after the Spartans leading rusher went on to the NFL.
Caper, a true freshman, is expected to get equal playing time with two other running backs during the game -- basically being named to share the starting spot today.
Pickelman has been named as the starting defensive tackle for the Spartans as a redshirt-sophomore after getting sporadic playing time last year.
It's an exciting time for both.
"When they told me, I had butterflies and got a little nervous. I'm a freshman coming in and now I'm possibly starting," Caper said. "But I'll be prepared for it and I'm happy and excited for the opportunity."
For Caper, it will be the first time playing against Division I competition and playing in front of 70,000-plus people.
For Pickelman, who played in several key games last year, mostly in passing downs, it will be his first start -- a step up in responsibility.
"It's exciting. I'll be nervous. But I knew if I worked hard over the summer I'd get this opportunity. I figured I had to work hard and good things would happen for me," Pickelman said.
Technically, Caper was listed as a backup running back to redshirt-freshman Caulton Ray. However, MSU coach Mark Dantonio said Ray, Caper and freshman Edwin Baker should see equal playing time throughout the game.
"Running back is a position of depth for us. We will work the three guys listed, in no particular order -- Caulton Ray, Larry Caper and Edwin Baker -- throughout the game. Those are the three guys that will take the majority of reps at running back for us," Dantonio said.
Caper, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound freshman was an all-state running back at Battle Creek Central last season.
MSU has a need at running back after Ringer left after his senior season last year. Ringer was the Spartans' entire running attack last season, accounting for 97-percent of the rushing yards for MSU. That meant the running backs already on the Spartan roster came in with little experience.
Caper was able to take advantage of that situation and open the eyes of the coaches -- meaning he will see the ball a lot today.
"We'll decide how and when they all will play. It depends on how many plays and what their stamina level is. We seem to move people in and out of that position at times," Dantonio said. "But we want those guys to get into a rhythm a little bit and show what they've got."
The opportunity has come fast for Caper. A top recruit coming in, MSU seems ready to hand the running reigns to a freshman this season -- either Caper or Baker... or both.
"This all has come a little bit faster than I thought," Caper said. "When camp started, it was like three weeks on the schedule and I thought that would take forever. But it has gone by real fast and now we are ready for game time.
"I'm just ready to take advantage of this opportunity. We have a lot of good tailbacks, more than just three. So you have to keep playing hard. Every day is crucial. If you have people pushing you like we do, you can't take a step back because if you take a step back, you go down the depth chart. And no one wants to go down the depth chart."
Pickelman has done his best to climb the depth chart since he arrived at MSU and even before.
Not highly recruited, Pickelman had verbally agreed to go to Central Michigan University before MSU offered a scholarship late in the process.
After redshirting his freshman year, Pickelman was given some opportunities last year as a backup.
Now he is the starter, following the departure of two-year starting defensive tackle Justin Kershaw, heading into his first game as a redshirt sophomore.
"I knew if I was given a chance I could do it. I just didn't get the hype that a lot of guys got coming out of high school," Pickelman said. "The key was gaining weight and keeping my quickness, showing good technique and learning the defense."
Pickelman left high school at around 230 pounds. But now at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, he could become a force on the defensive line for the Spartans.
"In terms of what kind of player he is, he has a high motor," Dantonio said. "His play was limited last year, but he figures to be a starter for us this year -- a real high-motor guy."
With both local players taking the field, each know a big game today will help them to keep their status heading into the rest of the season.
"All I can do is smile and be thankful for the opportunity and go out there and play tough and play hard," Caper said. "You find out about people in game-time situations. So as long as you can be prepared, keep the butterflies real low, play intense and tough, I think you'll be alright."
A few short seasons ago, Larry Caper and Kevin Pickelman both were standouts on the local high school scene, stars on their respective teams on Friday nights.
Today, both will be standouts on the college football scene, looking to become stars on the same team on Saturday afternoons throughout the fall.
Caper, a Battle Creek Central grad, and Pickelman, a Marshall High grad, will both run out onto Spartan Stadium today and are expected to be on the field the majority of the time, playing for Michigan State University.
MSU opens its season against Montana State today at Spartan Stadium for a noon start.
The Battle Creek area hasn't had a player become a regular starter at Michigan State since 2001 when Marshall's Ryan Van Dyke was in the quarterback rotation.
This season the area has two players wearing green and white to root for.
Caper is among a small handful of running backs looking to take over for Javon Ringer at MSU after the Spartans leading rusher went on to the NFL.
Caper, a true freshman, is expected to get equal playing time with two other running backs during the game -- basically being named to share the starting spot today.
Pickelman has been named as the starting defensive tackle for the Spartans as a redshirt-sophomore after getting sporadic playing time last year.
It's an exciting time for both.
"When they told me, I had butterflies and got a little nervous. I'm a freshman coming in and now I'm possibly starting," Caper said. "But I'll be prepared for it and I'm happy and excited for the opportunity."
For Caper, it will be the first time playing against Division I competition and playing in front of 70,000-plus people.
For Pickelman, who played in several key games last year, mostly in passing downs, it will be his first start -- a step up in responsibility.
"It's exciting. I'll be nervous. But I knew if I worked hard over the summer I'd get this opportunity. I figured I had to work hard and good things would happen for me," Pickelman said.
Technically, Caper was listed as a backup running back to redshirt-freshman Caulton Ray. However, MSU coach Mark Dantonio said Ray, Caper and freshman Edwin Baker should see equal playing time throughout the game.
"Running back is a position of depth for us. We will work the three guys listed, in no particular order -- Caulton Ray, Larry Caper and Edwin Baker -- throughout the game. Those are the three guys that will take the majority of reps at running back for us," Dantonio said.
Caper, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound freshman was an all-state running back at Battle Creek Central last season.
MSU has a need at running back after Ringer left after his senior season last year. Ringer was the Spartans' entire running attack last season, accounting for 97-percent of the rushing yards for MSU. That meant the running backs already on the Spartan roster came in with little experience.
Caper was able to take advantage of that situation and open the eyes of the coaches -- meaning he will see the ball a lot today.
"We'll decide how and when they all will play. It depends on how many plays and what their stamina level is. We seem to move people in and out of that position at times," Dantonio said. "But we want those guys to get into a rhythm a little bit and show what they've got."
The opportunity has come fast for Caper. A top recruit coming in, MSU seems ready to hand the running reigns to a freshman this season -- either Caper or Baker... or both.
"This all has come a little bit faster than I thought," Caper said. "When camp started, it was like three weeks on the schedule and I thought that would take forever. But it has gone by real fast and now we are ready for game time.
"I'm just ready to take advantage of this opportunity. We have a lot of good tailbacks, more than just three. So you have to keep playing hard. Every day is crucial. If you have people pushing you like we do, you can't take a step back because if you take a step back, you go down the depth chart. And no one wants to go down the depth chart."
Pickelman has done his best to climb the depth chart since he arrived at MSU and even before.
Not highly recruited, Pickelman had verbally agreed to go to Central Michigan University before MSU offered a scholarship late in the process.
After redshirting his freshman year, Pickelman was given some opportunities last year as a backup.
Now he is the starter, following the departure of two-year starting defensive tackle Justin Kershaw, heading into his first game as a redshirt sophomore.
"I knew if I was given a chance I could do it. I just didn't get the hype that a lot of guys got coming out of high school," Pickelman said. "The key was gaining weight and keeping my quickness, showing good technique and learning the defense."
Pickelman left high school at around 230 pounds. But now at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, he could become a force on the defensive line for the Spartans.
"In terms of what kind of player he is, he has a high motor," Dantonio said. "His play was limited last year, but he figures to be a starter for us this year -- a real high-motor guy."
With both local players taking the field, each know a big game today will help them to keep their status heading into the rest of the season.
"All I can do is smile and be thankful for the opportunity and go out there and play tough and play hard," Caper said. "You find out about people in game-time situations. So as long as you can be prepared, keep the butterflies real low, play intense and tough, I think you'll be alright."
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