For head coach Mark Dantonio though, this will be his 10th spring. Dantonio has brought the MSU football program to tremendous heights. That’s why, for him, this time of year holds a special meaning to the team.

“Spring ball is basically the next beginning, the next phase for us,” Dantonio said. “This is the first opportunity to see where we’re at as a football team. Watch our players, especially watch our young players as they have an extra year or two (of experience). It’ll be very exciting for us.”

But there can be something said of Dantonio’s continuity. A team doesn't go and compete for the Big Ten crown without the same philosophy year in, year out.

“Every spring brings forth a set of goals for us, really they don’t change," Dantonio said. "Pretty much the same that we’ve always been. We want to try and get three percent better as a player. As a program I think every single practice is embedded in us.”

With the start of spring practice comes plenty of different storylines. Specifically for this year, with so much turnover, there are plenty of positions that must be filled from a depth standpoint.

One of them will be arguably the most important: replacing Connor Cook, the winningest quarterback in MSU history, gone, quarterback is a hot topic. While Tyler O’Connor and Damion Terry look to have the the angle toward the starting gig, there are younger guys threatening from below.

Early enrollee Messiah deWeaver has the hope of fans everywhere with his size and skill. Redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke also hopes to make a name for himself after learning on the sidelines and behind the scenes last year.

Dantonio hopes to temper expectations, but there will be definitely be a quarterback battle throughout the year. At such an important position, the positional fight seems natural to find the best fit. Survival of the fittest, as they say.

“We have four quarterbacks, obviously we have two guys with more experience,” Dantonio said. “(The quarterback situation is) going to bear out over August camp and really I think over the first couple games. We’re going to give everyone opportunities.”

At other positions though, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Linebacker and secondary are two areas where the team hopes to lean on throughout next season.

“If you really look at our football team, linebacker is a position of strength right now,” Dantonio said. “If you look at us in the secondary, from an experience standpoint ... that’s a position of strength for us. And then you go to the front, we have some good players up there.”

Along with those, there are other stars on this team that have the potential to make some noise on Sundays down the road. Malik McDowell and L.J. Scott are just two athletes that can carry this team in a new generation.

The biggest x-factor though may be some returning players who were injured last year. Vayante Copeland and Ed Davis are two players who have the ability to completely alter the identity of this team.

Davis, who is applying for a medical redshirt, is on pace to be a sixth-year senior next season. Copeland showed off his skills last year before his injury. During the Spartans most successful season in recent years in 2013, their defense was the anchor that defined the team. The addition of the two can potentially bring the team back to the glory days of defense.

All throughout this squad, Michigan State has the necessary tools to be able to compete again for the Big Ten championship. And that's just one of the goals for this team.

"The final goal will be back to back," Dantonio said. "By that I mean win back-to-back (Big Ten) championships as we go toward this next phase."

But one of the most beautiful things about college football is the high turnover rate from year-to-year. A team can have a completely different starting lineup, much like this team does this year. But for Dantonio, he's been through this process before and he's ready for it and spring practice.

“That’s the challenge of college football, being able to be consistent and play consistently,” Dantonio said. “I think we pride to meet that challenge year in and year out.”

The spring practices for the Spartans will conclude in their annual Green-White game April 23. The game will also be broadcasted on Big Ten Network for fans unable to make the event.