Sophomore running back Edwin Baker runs during a drill at spring practice Thursday at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building.
The MSU football team entered spring practice the past two seasons with several injuries to key players and several question marks as to who would step in to fill their place.
This season, the injuries still are there, but unlike in years past, the Spartans have a ton of depth to account for their injuries and assure the players on the field still will be seeing playing time in the fall.
MSU can go two or three players deep at the skill positions on offense, as well as in the linebacking corps to help offset the injuries in practice.
“We still have some pieces now and some young players to build on,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said Thursday.
“We lost six defensive backs and that’s obviously an area of concern, but that was an area of concern coming into spring. We have good young players coming and the first four are very good.”
The Spartans have had players out on the offensive and defensive lines with sophomore defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and redshirt freshman offensive tackle Henry Conway missing time but have been able to rely on players such as junior defensive tackle Kevin Pickelman being able to step in and contribute.
The Spartans have been blessed with an abundance of depth at the skill positions, namely the quarterback spot, where they can go four-deep.
In addition to junior starting quarterback Kirk Cousins having a good spring and junior Keith Nichol splitting time between the position and wide receiver, Dantonio said sophomore Andrew Maxwell has been solid and early enrollee Joe Boisture has received reps as well.
Sophomores Edwin Baker and Larry Caper have teamed with early freshman enrollees Nick Hill and LeVeon Bell to give the team more depth at running back.
At wide receiver, Nichol and junior Keshawn Martin are listed as the starters, but senior Mark Dell and junior B.J. Cunningham also have plenty of experience and are listed as second-team players.
The Spartans have several options at tight end as senior Charlie Gantt, junior Brian Linthicum and sophomore Dion Sims all have seen extensive playing time and are listed as the top three on the depth chart.
The Spartans still have some question marks on the defensive line, but senior Jon Misch and freshman early enrollee Max Bullough have helped to supplement a strong group of returning linebackers.
Secondary
Although Dantonio said the Spartans still are sorting out their depth in the secondary, they should have a steady group of returning starters.
Sophomores Johnny Adams and Mitchell White return at the corner positions along with senior Chris L. Rucker, while junior Trenton Robinson and senior Marcus Hyde solidify the safety spots and should give the Spartans plenty of experience from the start of the season.
“We’ve got four guys back with starting experience,” Dantonio said.
“They are very, very solid … As far as No. 2’s, a lot of those things will be decided when our young freshmen will get in.”
Recruiting philosophy
With the departure of running backs coach and lead recruiter Dan Enos to Central Michigan, Dantonio said the Spartans’ recruiting tactics are much the same as they’ve been.
One of Enos’ biggest responsibilities was covering Detroit, which now will be split into more of a group effort.
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“So many of those (recruits) were able to come up here and learn who our coaches are and be able to have a relationship with them,” Dantonio said. “It’ll be a team effort, but it’s always been.”
