The moment the two will share on the field will be an emotional one for the Thornhill brothers. Their father, MSU football legend Charlie Thornhill, died last December.

“That’ll be a nice experience — another memory I can put on top of my list,” Kaleb Thornhill said.

“I think it happens for a reason … I think it was in God’s plan,” he said. “I think, you know, (my father) is smiling too right now.”

Charlie Thornhill served as Kaleb’s mentor, and now Kaleb said he is facing a lot of hard first times without his father, such as this year’s season opener against Alabama-Birmingham.

“The night before in the hotel, not being able to call him or talk to him was a little hard,” he said. “But you know it’s weird … it was almost like honestly, in my heart he was here — like I was going to talk to him after the game, and like he was watching. I honestly felt that, and it was very awkward.”

Kaleb’s brother Josh now talks to him and gives him advice, but Kaleb said it’s not the same.

“I listen to him, he’s been there before,” Kaleb Thornhill said. “He’s been through everything so I definitely look to him for advice after the games.”

What kind of advice?

“Get off that block quicker … make that tackle, things that I’ve heard before,” he said. “Just a replay in my head. It’s good to hear, though.”

The Thornhill legacy symbolizes what head coach Mark Dantonio is trying to instill in his players.

“I’ve always said since coming here that I want to try and link the past to the present and then look towards the future,” Dantonio said. “I think (Kaleb Thornhill) understands that, and I think he understands Michigan State football, so I think he brings that whole atmosphere to our team.”