And although Gholston doesn’t intend to learn what it’s like to lose in East Lansing, he understands the stakes are a little different during the annual Spring Game.

“It’s an opportunity to see and earn playing time ­— that’s really what this game is for,” he said.

During the last month, the Spartans have held 14 of its allotted 15 spring practices, which all culminates in the annual Spring Game. Above all, Gholston said he was excited to finally showcase everything the Spartans have worked on since the last time they took the field before a crowd on Jan. 2.

The Spartans were split into two squads — Green and White — Wednesday afternoon when the team’s seniors met to draft their respective teams.
Gholston will suit up in Green, along with junior running back Le’Veon Bell and junior tight end Dion Sims, while the White team will be led by senior cornerback Johnny Adams, junior linebacker Max Bullough and senior running back Larry Caper.

Redshirt freshman Connor Cook will get the start at quarterback for both teams since junior Andrew Maxwell — who is expected to be the starter next fall — will be sitting with a sprained knee injury.

Cook said it’s been different practicing with both the starting and second string offenses during practice, but he is prepared to play a complete game on Saturday.

“I just want to have a complete game,” he said. “Be efficient, be accurate, throw a lot of completions and go out there and have fun.”
Though fans will have to wait to catch a glimpse of Maxwell, there still is much to look for from the receiving corps, where the Spartans lost four of their top five receivers from the past year.

After Tuesday’s practice, offensive coordinator Dan Roushar praised the big play capabilities of redshirt freshman wide receiver Andre Sims Jr., who was the first receiver taken during Wednesday’s draft.

“He just keeps making plays,” Roushar said. “He’s tough, he’s a ballplayer, makes catches when the opportunity is presented, when he has an opportunity to advance the ball he’s (done) it and been taking care of the football and he’s been very sound assignment-wise.”

Running backs coach Brad Salem — who will be the head coach for the Green squad while wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel will assume coaching responsibilities for the White team — said he’s confident that both teams will come out with a fire Saturday afternoon.

“I think both teams feel good about their teams, and you feel good about just being able to do an event like this,” he said. “There’s equality on both sides so that’s where it’ll be fun, and (also to) just have guys come out and compete.”