Freshman Le’Veon Bell also now sits on the depth chart, listed as a co-starter after a breakout performance Saturday against Western Michigan.

“He’s earned the opportunity to be listed in bold letters at the top,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said of Bell’s position on the depth chart. “He had a great day.”

Bell had the best debut performance of any true freshman running back in school history Saturday, when he rushed for 141 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns, earning him co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

Filling in for Caper, who sat out with an injured hand, Bell took advantage of his opportunity early by rushing for 108 yards in the first half.

Dantonio said Caper is expected to be back this week for the Spartans’ game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. His decision to move Bell up on the depth chart had
nothing to do with Caper’s injury.

“I think that that’s probably more in regards to what Le’Veon (Bell) did on Saturday,” Dantonio said.

And while the emergence of Bell and a three-horse competition at running back might be a surprise for MSU fans, Dantonio said he and his staff saw this coming ever since Bell stepped on campus last spring.

“We’ve seen this throughout spring and throughout summer camp,” Dantonio said.

Necessary changes

Dantonio also was forced to adjust the depth chart at fullback following the season-ending neck injury to Josh Rouse in the first half of Saturday’s game.

Although he said earlier in the week Rouse would not need an operation, Dantonio announced Tuesday that the fifth-year senior had successful surgery that morning and was resting in the hospital.

“Josh (Rouse) has been an extraordinary leader for our football team and will continue to do so,” Dantonio said. “We’re looking for a full recovery, but obviously he’ll be lost for the season.”

Senior Nick Bendzuck takes Rouse’s place at the top of the depth chart after replacing him against the Broncos. Fred Smith, a sophomore who converted from wide receiver before the season, and redshirt freshman TyQuan Hammock are listed next in line at fullback.

Hammock came to MSU as a linebacker, but Dantonio said the decision was made Tuesday to try him out at fullback because of the Rouse injury.

“We talked with him, and we’ll see how that all works out,” Dantonio said. “It’s an experiment — the move. He’s played linebacker for us, but he’s become an active guy on special teams and a very noticeable guy so it will be interesting to see how it works.”

Proving his worth

Before the season started, senior J’Michael Deane was awarded the starting right tackle position after a battle in fall camp. Deane proved it was the right decision against Western Michigan by earning MSU offensive linemen of the week honors.

After moving from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side early in his career at MSU, a performance such as Saturday’s was exactly what he needed to build his confidence.

“He’s athletic and he has power, but he needed a game to get his feet wet, where he could say, ‘I did good things,’” Dantonio said. “He got that game.”