If you’re counting, that is four guys to fill the three spots but zero with any prior experience in MSU’s system on offense.

“We’re relatively young at that position,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “The offensive line is a position where … it takes the most time to have a group that gels.”

If that is the case, the Spartans could be in a little bit of trouble. If there is no additional shuffling, the line will go down as the youngest in Dantonio’s era.

MSU’s starters on the offensive line this season have five total years of experience. After researching all of the lines under Dantonio, the results show this season’s unit will be almost twice as young as any other in his previous four years.

The breakdown looks like this: In 2007, the offensive line had nine years total of prior experience, spread out between all five starters, three of which were returning from the 2006 season.

In 2008 and 2009, the starters had 10 combined years of blocking in the MSU system, divided between four guys. Also, both years, three starters were returning.

Last season, the Spartan line again had 10 years through five people but only two returning starters.

This season, only two guys make up the line’s five years, senior guard Joel Foreman and junior guard Chris McDonald.

Not a single person who is projected to step in at one of the tackle spots or center has ever consistently taken snaps with the offense at MSU in a game or practice before this season.

The biggest question: How did it get to that point?

Out of 11 offensive line recruits under Mark Dantonio between 2007-09, four consistently have been injured, two just left the program, one switched to a nose tackle and the other four are backups.

Dantonio could easily add to the years of experience provided by Foreman and McDonald if he plugged one of the four backups in. But at this point, he believes they simply are not ready.

“You don’t want guys in there that aren’t going to do good, or you don’t want guys in there who might not know what you’re doing,” Foreman said.

So the competition rages on.

Right now, the battle for center likely is settled. Junior center Blake Treadwell, formerly a defensive tackle, won the spot because redshirt freshman Travis Jackson has an ankle injury.

At right tackle, redshirt freshman Skyler Burkland impressed his coaches enough against Youngstown State to lock down that spot.

The only question left is at left tackle, arguably the most important position — other than quarterback — on the offense. The left tackle protects senior quarterback Kirk Cousins’ blind side.

To feel comfortable in the pocket, Cousins needs to have complete trust in that tackle to know he won’t get blasted in the back.

Senior tackle Jared McGaha started against the Penguins, but he has taken a backseat to sophomore tackle Dan France, a former defender, and junior tackle Fou Fonoti, a junior college transfer.

France likely has an advantage because he has been learning the left tackle position all spring. Fonoti said he has never played on the left side, but the coaches threw him in there for some reps in practice last week — he is excited for the chance to prove himself.

“Coaches asked me to do that, so all I can do is take it and try to work at it each day and continue to get better,” Fonoti said. “It’s kind of hard because you get so used to playing right, then you got to switch your whole weight and try to get it on the left. It’s a big transition.”

France said he can feel the line starting to click and become more cohesive.

“We’ve come a long way since the spring time,” he said. “We’re getting a lot better on the field. We’re just trying to take it to that next level.”

For Foreman, he is getting used to three lineman rotating in next to him, but rather than complain, he is just enjoying the tackles fighting for the spot to his left.

“Competition will only make us better,” he said. “I believe, 100 percent, we’re going to find those guys and be able to come together and be a good unit.”