Ivory McCoy is familiar with doing more than his share.

Last season, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior split his time on MSU’s football team playing his primary position at tight end and spotlighted as a pass rush specialist for the defense.

But as spring practice wraps up this weekend, head coach Bobby Williams has McCoy concentrating solely on defense, as a linebacker.

“In the back of his mind, he’s always thought of himself as a defensive player,” Williams said. “He’ll impact our game more on the defensive end.”

So far, his permanent presence there has been noticeable. At Saturday’s practice McCoy lit up the 90-play controlled scrimmage with two tackles, including a sack, for 10 lost yards and intercepted a touchdown pass on the goal line.

And he said he will look forward to next season if he remains a permanent part of the defense, as Williams says he will.

“I’ve always had a burning desire to try it out,” McCoy said.

With McCoy gone from the offense, it has largely changed from a two-tight-end style to utilizing more of the team’s quality wide receivers.

But if McCoy could have it his way, he said he might still be playing a little tight end, too. When he left that position, he left behind his “partner in crime,” senior tight end Chris Baker.

The two have been playing at that position together since they started four years ago. Now Baker is calling his close friend a “turncoat” as a joke, and learning how to play without him.

“We usually would clown around - we always find the same things more funny,” Baker said. “But it helps the team out, so it’s for the better.”

Now his new defensive teammates are breaking him in, trying to help McCoy adjust and learn a new style of play.

So far, McCoy said he feels pretty comfortable, besides a few lapses when his old offensive habits kick in.

“Right now, that’s a big pet peeve of mine,” McCoy said. “I have to be a reactor instead of the one causing the reaction. I gotta wait until they have the move to react.”

Fellow lineman, senior Josh Shaw, says McCoy does mess up from time to time, but once he’s learned all the plays, he’ll be a big addition to the defense.