8 MSU players are back with football team; 4 others leave

EAST LANSING - The Michigan State football players suspended for their involvement in the Nov. 22 fight at Rather Hall are back with the team, coach Mark Dantonio said Wednesday.

Four have transferred to other schools, however. That leaves eight formerly suspended players who were welcomed back to a recent team meeting.

"We are not doing anything as a team right now, but at least to sit in a team meeting room for our initial meeting back, they were welcomed to be in there, and then we will make decisions based on what happens (legally) at a later date," Dantonio said. "But I think it's important that we be supportive and understand that it's a football team, and again, as I mentioned earlier, that we need to move forward.

"They have been outside of the football facility and everything to do with football for the last six or seven weeks. And at this point in time, we are going to welcome them back into that environment, for clarity purposes. Yeah, they are on our team right now, yes. They are on our football team."

The nine players charged with misdemeanor assault and conspiracy to commit assault have pre-trial hearings this morning at East Lansing's 54-B District Court.

Two of them, Glenn Winston and Roderick Jenrette, were dismissed from the team shortly after the incident.

Two others, Ashton Leggett and Jamiihr Williams, are transferring, Dantonio said. Brynden Trawick and Ishmyl Johnson - who were suspended for being present at the altercation but were not charged - also are transferring.

The five remaining players who are charged - Mark Dell, B.J. Cunningham, Chris L. Rucker, Fred Smith and J'Michael Deane - are back with the team.

Three other suspended players are back as well. Donald Spencer and Chris D. Rucker were suspended for being present at the Rather Hall incident, but they were not charged.

Myles White was suspended for an unrelated violation of team rules, after he was cited for public urination the night before the altercation.

Leggett is transferring to Illinois State, Dantonio said, while Williams is going to Northeast Mississippi Community College. He is not sure about Johnson's plans.

Trawick's father, George, told the State Journal on Dec. 18 that his son likely will transfer to a junior college for a year.

He took mid-December visits to potential future destinations South Florida and Tennessee.

Dantonio also said Cameron Jude, who missed the Alamo Bowl trip for an undisclosed reason, still is with the team.