Still, Dennard, a senior cornerback and leader of the Spartan defensive backs, said the situation on the defensive side of the ball isn’t as bad as it seems.

He said players on the second and third team, such as junior cornerback Mylan Hicks, redshirt freshman safety Mark Meyers and redshirt freshman Ezra Robinson have been stepping up in the absence of the starters.

“We’ve got some great players, and we got the two and the threes,” Dennard said. “The whole defensive backfield — they’re really good. We’re going to have a good secondary for years to come.”

In seven years at the helm of the secondary, coach Harlon Barnett runs a tight ship.

Dennard said the physical nature of the backfield is part of what Barnett is teaching them.

“I’m not scared of (anybody), and I don’t think none of our defensive backs is,” Dennard said. “Especially playing under coach Barnett, he don’t preach scarediness. With him being a player here and watching his tape, we’re just trying to live up to him.”

The rough type of play has taken its toll on the Dry Branch, Ga., native, as he suffered a sports hernia and has yet to see any action this spring.

With just a couple practices left until the summer break, head coach Mark Dantonio said there’s nothing more Dennard can prove and he will hold the senior out of practices and the spring game.

“He could probably go next week, but we’ll just hold him out with only a couple practices,” Dantonio said. “He’s doing some sprints and that type of thing right now.”

With Dennard out for the rest of the spring, he has more time to be a coach and help the younger players excel.

Sophomore cornerback Trae Waynes, who saw limited action a season ago, but started the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, has been getting help from the senior.

“He’s helping me every way possible,” Waynes said, “He’ll watch me (sometimes) and critique my technique. Every time I come off the sidelines, he’ll let me know what I’m doing wrong and stuff like that to help me get better.”

The unit has formed a good amount of chemistry this spring, keeping up a tradition that Waynes said always has been at MSU.

Losing Adams, who had three interceptions and 35 tackles a season ago, leaves a big pair of shoes to fill, but with the help of Dennard and the coaching staff, Waynes said he believes the Spartans can have one of the best secondaries in the nation.

“(We’re) just trying to fill the void Johnny left by trying to help the defense become one of the top 10 defenses in the country,” he said.