The Spartans return senior Eric Gordon, who has started 27 consecutive games at linebacker and last season ranked second on the team in tackles, sophomore Chris Norman, who appeared in all 13 games last season as a freshman, and junior Jon Misch, who started two games last season.

The Spartans mix that experience with the incoming talent of a strong class of linebackers, as well as several redshirt freshmen. Incoming freshman William Gholston is expected to have playmaking capabilities and was one of the highest-rated Big Ten recruits at any position.

Freshman early enrollee Max Bullough joins a slew of redshirt freshmen listed on the team’s spring three-deep depth chart that should add some youth to the team.

The Spartans have tried running plays out of a 3-4 set in practice, in part to facilitate their multitude of linebacking talent.

“It’s great because I think we’re going to get an extra linebacker on the field,” Bullough said.

“I’ve only been playing college football for three weeks, but I’m getting more comfortable each and every day.”

Despite its returning talent, MSU will need to make up for the loss of leadership in graduating Brandon Denson, the team’s third-leading tackler, as well as Adam Decker. One of the biggest challenges this season will be making the young players feel confident and able to contribute.

“I’m just trying to get them to feel confident with themselves,” Gordon said. “I feel like if they mess up I have a leadership role now where I can get after them and tell them what’s up and what they need to do better. All the linebackers are tight and hang out with each other and goof around, which makes it better on the field.”

Turning up the heat

If the linebacking corps is to be a difference-making unit this season, one of the areas it will have to excel is in the pass rush.

The Spartans ranked third in the conference last year with 35 sacks, led by Jones’ nine, and have enough defensive starters returning to continue that this season.

Nevertheless, the Spartans lost their leading tackler on the defensive line with the departure of Trevor Anderson and will need more help from the linebacking unit to increase the pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

After Saturday’s modified scrimmage, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said he was pleased with the team’s ability to generate pressure on the quarterback, as three players recorded multiple sacks.

Maxwell impresses

After sitting out and learning the offense last season, redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Maxwell has been impressing the coaching staff with his play this spring.

Maxwell threw for 199 yards in the team’s first scrimmage April 10, and combined with junior quarterback Kirk Cousins to produce 376 yards and five touchdowns in Saturday’s scrimmage.

“He can kind of move up the ranks and feel more comfortable about the offense,” offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said. “Going into the spring you can really see his comfort level. … The good thing that winners do is they don’t make the same mistakes, and that’s what Maxwell’s doing.”