EAST LANSING – They don’t have a nickname, at least not yet. Since Pat Narduzzi uses the “412 Crew” moniker with his Pitt Panthers, Montae Nicholson and Demetrious Cox might want to avoid that.
“De De (Cox) is to the point where he recognizes things before they happen and communicates them. And Montae’s skill-set is very, very, very good,” co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said Tuesday. “I wouldn’t trade them for anybody. … You feel like anybody that’s behind them is learning a lot, because their knowledge of our defense is about as good as it can be.”
But the two safeties are the anchors of Michigan State’s secondary, a pair of Pittsburgh-area pounders prepared to show that the Spartans have grown in pass coverage over the offseason.