MSU leans on Corley's defensive versatility

East Lansing — It’s never bad to be compared to the Big Ten Receiver of the Year, especially when that player is now starting in the NFL.

And while Michigan State freshman Donnie Corley might one day earn that same honor, the reason coach Mark Dantonio was likening him to former Spartan Tony Lippett this week was only partially because of his ability catching passes.

The rest, of course, had to do with the fact both know a little something about intercepting passes after Corley saw his first action of the season on defense in last week’s loss to Michigan. Corley didn’t quite get that interception on his limited snaps against the Wolverines, but he’ll be getting his share of chances moving forward.

“We've done it before, so we're working towards it,” Dantonio said. “But he's got to be able to play fundamentally sound out there as well. There's different coverages. Again, as I go back and say, ‘OK, you're a freshman, regardless of your level of ability you're still a freshman and there's a lot of things going on out there in terms of coverages changing based on sets, motions, things of that nature, squeeze sets, bunched-up sets, things of that nature, how to play those.’

“You learn a little bit, on-the-job training a little bit. But he did some good things. We'll keep working him.”

Corley was limited in the situations he was used and nearly came up with an interception in the fourth quarter.

“I feel like I had just enough to snaps to give me a feel for what’s going on,” Corley said. “They kind of just put me in good positions like man-to-man situations instead of putting me in motion. They didn’t put me in situations where it was spread and there check calls because I didn’t go through any of that. They did a great job with that.”

Dantonio has had his share of experience with players being used at both wide receiver and defensive back. Before Lippett closed the 2014 season playing both sides of the ball, Dantonio coached Chris Gamble while defensive coordinator at Ohio State.

Gamble played almost the entire game on offense and defense, something Dantonio isn’t sure will happen with Corley.

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“I think he's got a big upside as a wide receiver, can make a lot of plays,” Dantonio said. “So, I think his home is at wide receiver, and then he has to transition to corner as we go. But I think there will be opportunities to do that for him.

“Like I said, when I was at Ohio State, the most Chris Gamble ever played was 113 plays one game. He was over a hundred six games in a row. So it can be done. Lippett has played a lot of plays in the past, too. Now he's starting in the NFL as a corner in his second year.”

Corley, who has 23 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns this season, saw his first work at defense in the middle of last week. On Tuesday, he spent even more time on defense as Michigan State continued its preparation for Illinois on Saturday.

The need for Corley on the defensive side came about because of injuries to players like Vayante Copeland as well as the fact he was recruited with the idea he could play both ways after recording 90 tackles and 10 interceptions as a senior at Detroit King.

“It’s a good thing to have a head coach that’s a former defensive back coach. I get the pick of the litter a little bit,” co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett said. “It’s good to have Donnie over there with us, and he’s a smart football player, he understands, it’s just all the little things that he has to get down, but he works at it and he’ll continue to work at it and he’ll be a good player on both sides of the ball.”

It makes it a bit tougher on receivers coach Terrence Samuel, who earlier this season lost Justin Layne to cornerback after just one game at receiver.

“The toughest thing is just hearing me scream at them from way over on the defensive field trying to get them over on the offensive field so I can get them some reps, some experience,” Samuel joked. “They’re both doing well but both have a lot on their plate trying to play DB and understand the subtle nuances that are required in that position. But then you’ve got me trying to make sure they’re still getting reps and still immersed in the offense. You have to be immersed in the offense as well as you have to be immersed in the defense.”

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