Dantonio looks to fresh faces to replace key losses

Like every team across the country, the MSU football team faces questions heading into the 2008 season.

How will they replace wide receiver Devin Thomas, who was the second receiver taken in the 2008 NFL Draft?

How will they replace defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic and running back Jehuu Caulcrick?

“It’s interesting, because last year nobody would have asked me about Devin Thomas before the first game,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Nor would they have asked me about Saint-Dic. Nor would they have asked me about Caulcrick.

“They all wanted to know about (senior running back Javon) Ringer, they all wanted to know about (senior quarterback Brian) Hoyer, they all wanted to know about (sophomore wide receiver) Mark Dell. They wanted to know about those people and yet those (other) three people had outstanding years,” Dantonio said.

One of the other popular questions heading into this year is which team members are going to become the next breakout players.

Dantonio acknowledges that “somebody’s going to elevate their play,” and he points at the wide receiving corps as having that potential.

Aside from second-year starter Dell, redshirt freshman B.J. Cunningham looks to be the guy who will step in to fill Thomas’ shoes.

Teammates have raved about the 6-foot-2 Cunningham, since he was a scout team phenom last year and he has continued to impress. He is slated alongside Dell as the starting receivers against California.

Other possibilities include senior Deon Curry, junior Blair White, a former walk-on, and freshmen Keshawn Martin and Fred Smith.

Backing the line

Steering away from their original plans, the Spartans plan on starting sophomore Greg Jones at strong-side linebacker, junior Adam Decker at middle linebacker and sophomore Eric Gordon at weak-side linebacker.

Coming into the season, the team originally wanted Jones to move to the middle. Meanwhile, Gordon would be the No. 1 weak-side backer, while junior Brandon Denson and senior Ryan Allison battled for the strong-side position.

Regardless of who opens the game, Dantonio said Decker, Allison and freshman middle linebacker David Rolf also can expect to see significant time.

“One thing we did last year was we played a lot of people and I think that helped,” Dantonio said. “It helped us in terms of late season and in terms of the bowl game, so we’ll continue to do those type of things.”

Scouting Cal’s QB’s

California coach Jeff Tedford ended one of the hottest quarterback battles in the country Aug. 21 when he named sophomore Kevin Riley the starter over senior Nate Longshore.

Regardless of who is under center, Dantonio doesn’t expect to see a difference in how Tedford runs the offense.

“I don’t think, from what I’ve seen, their play-calling is that much different,” Dantonio said. “I’m sure they have vcertain things they like to use — (Riley) is a little more mobile in the pocket so we have to contain him a little bit more in that respect — but they’re both very good players. I don’t see their offense changing that much.”