“I love football more than I love playing quarterback,” Nichol said. “As long as I’m out there contributing and doing the best I can, and we’re moving the ball and scoring touchdowns, I could care less where I’m at.”

Nichol spent last spring competing with Cousins for the starting quarterback job, but neither ran away with the position.

By the time MSU’s season finished after the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl, Nichol had started as many games at wide receiver as he did at quarterback last season, and this spring officially made the move to X-receiver.

When spring practice first began, Nichol sat at the top of the depth chart.

One month later, with Saturday’s Spring Game ending spring practice, Nichol has retained that spot, staying ahead of senior receiver Mark Dell, who is second on the team among returning Spartans in receiving yards (449). Without having to lobby for a starting position, Nichol has let his play on the field do the talking.

In two scrimmages this spring, Nichol has caught a total of eight catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns, two of which head coach Mark Dantonio described as “outstanding catches.”

“(Nichol) continues to get better and better,” Dantonio said following the Spartans’ second scrimmage. “As much as anything, it’s the confidence factor down the field.”

During his time as a quarterback last season, Nichol displayed his athleticism and a wide range of abilities by not only throwing for 764 yards and seven touchdowns, but also accumulating 132 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

Now playing a position that typically requires more physicality than quarterback, Nichol has added weight in the offseason, and said he weighs between 220 and 225 pounds.

Although Nichol said he would have gotten bigger if he still was playing quarterback, the extra muscle hasn’t hurt him at receiver.

“I don’t get shoved around out there,” Nichol said. “I feel fast, and I feel healthy and strong.”

As good as Nichol has been this spring, he said learning a new position isn’t always fun and games. Having never played anything other than quarterback, he said he still needs more time working on the fine details of the position, such as footwork and blocking.

However, Nichol said coaches and other receivers have given him help along the way and his transition has been a collective effort.

Cousins, who now is throwing to Nichol, said Nichol’s struggles will pass, and said he believes his one-time quarterback competitor could do pretty much whatever he wanted on the football field.

“He’s always been a great competitor and a great worker so whatever role he’s got, he’s going to put everything he has into it,” Cousins said.

Looking ahead to next season, when Nichol expects to remain at receiver but still get a few reps at quarterback, Nichol is as optimistic as anybody about his potential at receiver.

“Every day, I see myself getting a little better and a little bit better,” Nichol said. “The way it is right now, the future looks bright, and I’m excited about it.”