One day, that duty might fall to sophomore linebacker Darien Harris and sophomore wide receiver Andre Sims Jr.

As the lone journalism students on the MSU football team (3-1), along with being roommates, Harris and Sims are in the process of determining if they feel as comfortable in front of the camera as they do on the gridiron each weekend.

“I definitely want to host my own show,” Harris said. “Maybe I’ll do sports or something. I love media, I love to voice my opinion and I love to argue in that sense.

“When my teammates come in talking about ‘Breaking Bad’, I always watch ‘SportsCenter’ for the umpteenth time.”

After living together their freshman year, along with sophomore cornerback Trae Waynes and junior linebacker Taiwan Jones, the two grew close in a unit they frequently refer to as “250 Boys,” signifying a block of rooms at Case Hall.

Being part of a program that’s accustomed to having a significant amount of media following its every move, Harris and Sims have been learning what it’s like to be the ones asking the questions, rather than the ones answering them. But sometimes, treading the line between student-athlete and prospective media member can be a hazy one.

Currently in journalism professor Sue Carter’s Sports Media I class on Mondays and Wednesdays, Sims said the session often begins with an open forum to discuss the top sports stories of the week — a topic the Spartan football team usually is a popular conversation in.

And when the Spartans don’t perform well on Saturdays, Sims said other students openly will express their disappointment in the team’s effort, while he and Harris remain silent to reflect on what’s being said.

“I just feel like people have their opinions, but they’re not on the field with us,” Sims said. “They don’t really know how or what we do and that’s understandable because they’re not on the field. At the same time, everybody has their own opinions and think a certain way and that’s what makes sports media what it is today.”

For Harris, it’s a lesson in objectivity, which remains an essential trait in the field.

“For me, the biggest thing is to be objective as opposed to when I’m on the field with my team,” Harris said. “I just kind of sit back and don’t really voice my opinion as much because it’s a different perspective in that sense.”

Both in their second year of eligibility, Harris and Sims have been strong presences for the team despite only seeing light playing time this season.

Sims has seen most of his touches on the return team, but recorded one catch for 13 yards and a touchdown in a 55-17 victory against Youngstown State on Sept. 14. Harris has recorded two tackles on the season and also has seen his primary playing time on the return team, at one point being named as the team’s kick returner prior to the team’s 26-13 win in the season opener against Western Michigan.

“Darien Harris is a tough guy, he can run, he can really run,” Dantonio said on Aug. 27. “He was a tailback in high school. He has the skill set to go back there and do those things.”

However, the future likely will lead to greater playing time for the duo — and possibly media opportunities beyond that. But in the meantime, Sims will continue to embody Stephen A. Smith while he compares Harris to Skip Bayless, leading the debate in the locker room and beyond.

“I could see myself having my own show with Darien because all we do is argue,” Sims said. “He left the house dirty — I don’t like the house dirty, simple stuff. But if we were arguing about sports, I think that’d be a great show.”