“A couple years ago, we wasn’t as together as we are now,” junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker said. “Now, we’ve got guys who have been in this system for at least two years, so everybody is more adjusted to it.”

It’s been several years since the Spartans ended spring camp feeling comfortable with their secondary. But with eight key players returning from last season — including three full-time starters — there’s reason to believe the secondary will be one of the team’s strongest units.

Led by Rucker, senior cornerback Ross Weaver and senior all-purpose defensive back Kendell Davis-Clark, the Spartans have an array of players who have the ability to make life miserable for opposing receivers.

In addition to that trio, the Spartans return senior cornerback Jeremy Ware, junior safety Marcus Hyde and senior safety Dan Fortener.

Fortener is one of the early favorites to emerge as starting free safety, where he started several games last season in place of the injured Davis-Clark.

MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said the multitude of options he has should breed healthy competition.

“We have a lot of depth back in the secondary,” Dantonio said. “We played nine guys last year, we really lost only one guy out of that nine. We’ve got a couple new guys coming in here as well that will have an opportunity to play.”

Replacing Wiley

The loss of safety Otis Wiley, who is projected to go in one of the middle rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft, will certainly sting the Spartans. Wiley finished with a team-high four interceptions in each of the past two seasons.

But instead of mourning the loss of the three-year starter, the returning defensive backs are looking at his departure as an opportunity to expand their roles on the team.

Weaver said he’s focused on becoming a better leader and communicator.

“We have a ton of seniors in the secondary that are making it the strength of the defense,” Weaver said.

Despite finishing sixth in the Big Ten in pass defense last season, the Spartans were much better than their ranking indicates.

In fact, the 207.5 yards per conference game they allowed last season was better than their average in 2005, when they finished third in Big Ten pass defense by allowing 208.8 yards per game.

With a better grasp of the playbook, that number should shrink even more next season.

“They understand the (defense) conceptually, and they’re tackling very well,” Dantonio said. “When those two things happen, you have a chance to be pretty good back here.”

Learning on the fly

Unlike past seasons, the Spartans also have a stock of young players who progressed swiftly in their short time on campus.

As freshmen last season, Johnny Adams and Trenton Robinson emerged as quality players.

Adams burst onto the scene late to collect two interceptions, while Robinson made six tackles in eight games.

This year, the Spartans also expect contributions from redshirt freshman Brynden Trawick, as well as true freshmen Patrick White and Donald Spencer, who both enrolled early to participate in spring camp.

“We have a lot of vets back there — guys that have played before so they know what to expect,” Rucker said.

“Even the young guys are getting reps in the spring so they’re going to be ready for the fall.”

Trawick, a safety, hasn’t been around much longer than a year, but he’s confident it won’t be long before teams take notice of the secondary’s renaissance.

“We have a chance to be one of the best in the country,” Trawick said.

“If we keep on working and doing what we can do, we can be the best.”