As he rehabilitates his knee this spring, with hopes to be next season's starting quarterback, sophomore Drew Stanton said the memory of the Nebraska player who "cheap-shotted" him at the Alamo Bowl in December will serve as motivation.

"I've never had such a pain in my leg before, and I remember the guy over top of me, laughing and talking trash," Stanton said during a spring football press conference Wednesday.

"That's something that motivates me every day to go out there and make sure that I'm at the top of my game and showing everybody that that was a cheap shot and that I will be the starting quarterback around here."

Stanton was a backup quarterback last season, but because of his athleticism, he was used mostly on special teams.

Head coach John L. Smith's decision to use Stanton on special teams seemed risky because it exposed the backup quarterback to vicious hits he would otherwise avoid.

And Stanton did go through MSU's first 12 games without incurring a major injury.

But in the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska on Dec. 29, on a routine punt coverage assignment, Stanton got hit by Nebraska linebacker Ira Cooper, tearing the ACL in his right knee.

Stanton said he thinks Cooper deliberately tried to injure him.

"Like everybody thought that people would purposely gun for me when I'm out there," Stanton said.

"Well, I'm pretty sure this guy was, because he was assigned to me. When I ran by him, I know he came back to hit me.

"You just get that lasting image in your mind, and it's something that can't go away."

Stanton underwent surgery to repair his knee on Jan. 23.

He began to rehabilitate the knee a week after surgery and now he's in rehab five times a week, trying to recover strength in his leg.

For now, Stanton can concentrate on getting healthy, because Smith already has decided the sophomore will compete for the starting job in the fall.

It's a luxury no other quarterback on MSU's roster can enjoy.

"We'll let everybody else go ahead and compete during spring, and then when fall ball comes around, whoever wins that battle will go battle with Drew come fall," Smith said.

Stanton's competition for starting quarterback likely will come from either senior Damon Dowdell, redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves or redshirt freshman Sean Clayton.

Reaves, who threw to former Southern Cal star wide receiver Mike Williams at Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., said his strengths include throwing ability and mobility.

"Hopefully, I got a chance to go in and compete like everybody else, and whatever works out, I wish the best for everybody," Reaves said.

Position changes

There were a couple surprises when MSU released its projected position changes for next season.

Smith is planning to use former running backs Jaren Hayes and Tyrell Dortch in the defensive backfield.

Hayes, a junior who rushed for 609 yards last season, is listed as a cornerback and Dortch, a senior who rushed for 279 yards, has moved to bandit.

Smith said the changes were made to get both players on the field more and that they could be temporary if depth at running back becomes a problem.

"Even though that move has been made to the other side of the ball, don't look for them both to stay over there," Smith said.