This year, however, there’s a different feel for head coach Mark Dantonio and his staff. The team finally has some offensive line talent who can play professionally. Offensive linemen Jack Allen, Jack Conklin and Donavon Clark are all eligible for this year’s draft. All have a chance to be drafted and make their impact at the next level, as well.

Conklin, who is projected to be a first-round pick, is forgoing his senior season. While it was a tough decision, because of the injuries he sustained in 2015, it’s a good one. He penned a heartfelt letter to Spartan nation after his decision.

“(The decision) was really difficult,” Conklin said. “It was right down to the wire at the end. I feel like I would’ve been a captain and everything. It was a tough decision but I feel like in the end it was the right decision.”

Conklin was the first Spartan All-American tackle since Flozell Adams in 1997. Not to be outdone, though, Allen was named to back-to-back All-American squads during his junior and senior season.

MSU has always been able to develop talent at other positions, specifically their cornerbacks. Ex-Spartans and former first round picks Trae Waynes and Darqueze Dennard were both on hand to watch Pro Day and support their former teammates.

There are plenty of other former Spartans who have achieved success in the NFL. Kirk Cousins and Le’Veon Bell are just a few others making some noise on the offensive side of the ball.

As good as MSU has been developing talent and winning games, there was one gaping hole — offensive line. For a position where they look to make holes for running backs, MSU has struggled.

Dantonio understands that it’s a process, especially for a position like offensive line, where there needs to be a lot of developing.

“We’ve had a lot of different position groups play go play in the NFL, (offensive line) is the next step for our program,” Dantonio said. “It shows that we have those types of players. Offensive line takes so long to get in the grain. Those guys have just been playing a long time.”

With MSU bringing in a solid recruiting class, Conklin and his fellow linemen hope to pave a way for more recruits to choose East Lansing. Conklin is a former walk-on and he’s come a long way to where he is now.

One of those incoming recruits will be another Allen. After Jack and Brian, Matt Allen will grace the field in green and white for the upcoming years. As for how the eldest Allen, Jack, felt about Matt, he has a lot of confidence in him.

"(Matt's) probably the hardest working (of the three) and he hates losing more than me and Brian do," Jack Allen said. "He's just a guy that's going to push it all the time and it's going to pay off."

Coupled with Brian, Matt and other recruits, MSU should now be in a great position going forward. The more players they can send to the NFL, the better for everyone involved.

“I think it’s huge,” Conklin said. “I think if we walk in and have three of us drafted, that’d be huge. For the program and even for recruiting. ... A lot more players are going to be able to say ‘hey, we want go to (to Michigan State).'”

Time will tell if that statement holds true, but MSU has already brought in a strong recruiting class this year. It's all up to Dantonio and the program now.