There are some new big men on campus this semester, and they are not wasting any time stepping into their positions on the MSU football team.

Junior defensive tackle Bobby Jones, freshman offensive lineman Brendon Moss, freshman quarterback Domenic Natale and freshman defensive tackle Diego Oquendo have all joined the Spartans this semester and are participating in spring football, getting a jump on the new recruits coming in the fall.

Jones, currently behind senior Domata Peko on the depth chart at defensive tackle, said it has been a difficult move, both on the field and in the classroom.

"It's a big adjustment trying to make it as I go through spring ball here and this semester," Jones said.

He also has switched positions from defensive end, a position he has played his whole life, to defensive tackle.

"I'm gonna play where they put me as long as I can get on the field," the 6-foot-4, 296-pound Jones said.

MSU head coach John L. Smith said he is starting to see improvement but would like to see more from Jones.

"I'm going to keep him in there and keep banging him until he gets to the point that I like his toughness," Smith said. "What he needs to do is just forget about everything when he gets out there and go.

"Once he turns up the aggressive stuff and quits thinking about every little thing under the sun, he'll start to make some progress."

Jones, originally from Yankton, S.D., went to junior college at North Dakota State College of Science - a school of about 2,300 - said he is adjusting to life at a larger school.

He also said his teammates have been very welcoming.

"The guys accepted me well," Jones said. "That made the transition a lot better. A lot of guys took me under their wing, and I am thankful for that."

Oquendo, listed No. 3 on the depth chart at one of the wideout positions behind seniors Kyle Brown and Aaron Alexander.

After just a couple of weeks, the speedy, 5-foot-9, 178-pound Oquendo has impressed Stanton with his skills.

"You can see him starting to get comfortable and finally settling in and letting his natural ability come out," Stanton said.

"Seeing his speed and his hands and stuff like that, allow him to do the things he needs to do that makes him as good as he is."

But just how fast is he?

"I don't know if he's as fast as (former MSU running back DeAndra) Cobb is," Stanton said, "but he can definitely run. He can get out and run with the best of them."

Although the competition for backup quarterback is between redshirt freshman Brian Hoyer and sophomore Stephen Reaves, he likes what he sees in Natale, a true freshman.

Junior starting quarterback Drew Stanton was also impressed with the way Natale was playing.

"It's a different level up here," Stanton said. "There's so much that has to do with learning.

"Dom's done a tremendous job with that. He's been able to pick it up and learn from his mistakes."