“I thought that (redshirt freshman)Tyler O’Connor was sharp in the drills. (Senior Andrew) Maxwell was in the drills. I thought (sophomore) Connor Cook had a good two-minute series and took them down to score in (a) two-minute situation out here in the first day of practice and they were crisp.”

Maxwell currently is No. 1 in the depth chart to begin camp, followed by Cook and then O’Connor. Dantonio has maintained that playing time for not only the quarterbacks, but running backs and several other positions is up in the air.

Many also are hoping that true freshman Damion Terry, who joins the team as a highly anticipated four-star prospect out of Erie, Pa., will find a way to earn some snaps under center.

“It’s the first day of practice,” Dantonio said. “It’s just hard to really assess. What you look for is quickness and guys that need to play at a fast rate. It means they are in condition.”

The Spartans are coming off of a disappointing 2012 season marred by inconsistent play from the quarterback and receiver positions. Dantonio was encouraged at practice not only by the play of his quarterbacks, but the effort from his receivers, who were routinely plagued with cases of the drops.

Senior Bennie Fowler, juniors Tony Lippett, Keith Mumphery and DeAnthony Arnett and sophomores Macgarrett Kings Jr. and Aaron Burbridge will all look to step up as reliable targets this season for whichever player emerges at quarterback.

“They made a couple of difficult catches, Arnett made a couple,” Dantonio said. “Fowler made a great one in the end zone for a touchdown off of Cook’s throw. I thought they were very good.”

As many as seven running backs will battle to replace former Spartan Le’Veon Bell’s production this season, including redshirt freshman Riley Bullough, who enters camp as the starter, junior Nick Hill, the most experienced of the bunch, and a trio of true freshmen that features Delton Williams, who was recruited as both a running back and linebacker.

Physically, Dantonio said Williams reminds him of Bell, and part of the puzzle is figuring out which position he’s best suited to play.

“I think we have to find out if he’s going to play running back,” Dantonio said of Williams, Terry’s high school teammate. “That’s the most immediate need. Then from there, you can make an evaluation on special teams and then linebacker if he is not playing on that side. He is a football player, but we have to figure out what he can do.”

With the first practice comes a host of questions — questions that Dantonio hopes to find the answer to prior to the Aug. 30 season-opener against Western Michigan.