At wide receiver, with the departures of Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings Jr., R.J. Shelton and others will be asked to step it up. A new starting quarterback will be slinging the ball for MSU, and Shelton is the only returning wide receiver, excluding tight ends, with more than two catches. Look for Felton Davis III, Monty Madaris, and incoming freshmen Donnie Corley, Justin Layne and Cameron Chambers to help ease the burden.

"We lost a couple guys from the year before, we're a little thin (at receiver)," Dantonio said, and he expects Corley and Chambers to help fill that role.

Dantonio highlighted past wide receivers who came in and made a difference as freshman, but he said Davis is expected to step up and be a leader to the group as well.

"(Corley) and (Chambers) are going to have every opportunity to get involved," Dantonio said.

For the offensive line, four of the five starters from last season are to graduate or have declared for the draft, leaving offensive tackle Kodi Kieler as the only remaining starter. Question marks surrounding Dennis Finley’s recovery are troublesome, and if Brandon Clemons does not receive a medical redshirt by the NCAA, the offensive line will be experiencing a complete overhaul. On the bright side, offensive guard Benny McGowan played a large number of snaps this season.

"Conklin goes out, sort of a catch-22 situation," Dantonio said. "We wish him the best, but we need to move on. We need to find players at that position as well."

Dantonio said Finley might not be back by the spring, but should be back in the fall 100 percent healthy.

At defensive end, senior pass rushers Shilique Calhoun and Lawrence Thomas are no longer there, but Demetrius Cooper is poised for a breakout season after finishing second on the team in sacks, notably edging dominant nose tackle Malik McDowell. The interior line will be okay with big boys McDowell and Craig Evans returning, but the outside rushers might have challenges getting to the quarterback.

The secondary was riddled with injuries this season for MSU, but corner back Vayante Copeland's return should prove extremely helpful. Incoming freshman Demetric Vance, as well as young players Tyson Smith, Khari Willis and Grayson Miller give the secondary depth. The one positive from the injuries is that freshmen, like Miller and Willis, were asked to step up and gained valuable game time experience.

Dantonio said Copeland is still making progress with his doctors and it remains to be seen when he will be back. He said his progress to becoming healthy is going well and he is working hard to rehab.