“It’s really close,” Barnett said. “Once the full pads are on, we’ll see if some separation can occur, if not, then we’ll find out in the fall.”

The departures of Hyde and fellow senior Chris L. Rucker means the Spartans will need to replace one side of the field from a secondary that ranked fifth in Big Ten pass defense and third in pass defense efficiency.

Sophomore Darqueze Dennard is listed as the starter at the cornerback spot in front of redshirt freshman Tony Lippett.

Barnett drew comparisons between Jones and Hyde, who stepped up his senior season and finished with three interceptions for 81 yards last season, but said he hopes Jones doesn’t have to wait that long to have success.

“Isaiah is pretty powerful himself, (and there’s) maybe a little more of a burst out of Isaiah than Jairus, but Jairus is smart,” Barnett said.

“I kind of liken (Jones) to Hyde a little bit, and I tell him this. Marcus kept coming and kept coming until he had a really good year last year as a senior. I told him he doesn’t want to wait until he’s a senior to be like Marcus, but to do it now.”

Jones said both players have been cheering for each other on the field and compared himself to a thinker who is ready for the offense’s next play. He said Lewis is a natural reactor and perhaps is the hardest hitter in the secondary.

“We bring different qualities,” Jones said. “I’m probably more of a thinker on the field than he is. … He is more just like a reactor. He’s going to be the first one to the ball probably most of the time.”

Left side
With senior left guard Joel Foreman out for the spring because of a wrist injury, several players will get a chance to work on the left side of the offensive line.

Junior John Deyo and sophomore Micajah Reynolds are listed at the top of the depth chart at left guard, while senior Jared McGaha hopes to bring 23 games of playing experience to the starting left tackle spot this season.

McGaha recorded a start at right guard and left tackle last season and has been used at various positions in his career, but looks to solidify the left tackle spot this season.

“I feel comfortable there,” McGaha said. “I feel very comfortable moving around and being able to experience different positions, and I feel like left tackle is a very good move for me because I feel it’s going to put me in a better position to make this team more successful.”