Linking Laconically is happy with its wide receivers

Well, there's a lot we still don't know about Andrew Maxwell, but one thing he seems to have quickly figured out: wide receivers like to be complimented. This quote comes from the Detroit Free Press:

"I've said it before and I'll keep saying it -- this group of receivers has all the tools to be just as explosive and be the playmakers that we were fortunate enough to have in the past," Maxwell said Tuesday on a Big Ten spring football conference call. "When you look at guys like Tony Lippett, Keith Mumphrey, A.J. Sims, DeAnthony Arnett, John Jakubik, Bennie Fowler, when he gets healthy, those are the guys who have the hands, who have the speed, who have all the moves, who have the knowledge of the game to be playmakers and great players for us. All they need right now is a little more experience."

Then, via Joe Rexrode at the Lansing State Journal, Maxwell focused on Mumphery:

On the first day of Michigan State’s spring practice, coach Mark Dantonio called the redshirt freshman receiver "a guy that’s ready to explode onto the scene." "Strong," MSU receivers coach Terry Samuel said of the chiseled Mumphery. "He’s got the build for it, he’s got the speed for it." Quarterback Andrew Maxwell may have delivered the biggest compliment yet on Tuesday when he said of Mumphery: "He’s a worker. His work ethic, along with his speed, might be his biggest asset."

As much as I'll miss Kirk Cousins throwing to B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin, I'm pretty excited about the potential of the new group. More links after the jump.

Michigan State RB Le'Veon Bell 'the lead guy,' but that doesn't guarantee starter's status | Detroit Free Press
Dantonio must believe a slighted Bell is a motivated Bell. He's done everything in his power to say that Bell isn't necessarily a starter this year: "Yet, today MSU coach Mark Dantonio would only go so far as to say Bell is "the lead guy at this point," keeping the battle open."

Derrick Nix should get a second chance, but he must work for it | The Detroit News
Matt Charboneau thinks Derrick Nix should be allowed back on the basketball team: "Why all the anger toward him? Shouldn't we, as a community, feel obligated to point him on the right path? Nix is a young kid trying to find his way in life. Tossing him off the team for one screwup will do nothing to help him find that way. It will in fact block his path."

Daily list: Local stars who declared early for NBA draft | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Freep looks at the success/lack thereof of some recent NBA Draft early entrants from Michigan schools: "3) Shannon Brown -- 2006 He bolted MSU as a junior. An NBA champ with the Lakers, he's now a starter in Phoenix"

Which point guard is Michigan’s best NBA prospect? | BallinMichigan
A little shameless self promotion here: I've launched a new website, BallinMichigan.com, covering high school and college (mostly small college) basketball in Michigan. This post compares three pretty good D-I point guards that we'll have the privilege of watching in the state next year in Keith Appling, Ray McCallum and Trey Burke: "He (Appling) might have the furthest to go of any of the three to be an actual point guard, but he also might have the highest ceiling if he can get there."