But, he’s started to adjust, which showed Saturday in the 21st-ranked Spartans' 31-20 win against Central Michigan, by rushing for a team-high 56 yards on 13 carries for a touchdown.

“La’Darius is a big back,” Dantonio said in his postgame press conference Saturday. “He’s got a good vision, keeps his shoulders square, low-center of gravity. He’s a big guy, I think almost about 230 pounds. He’s a very positive guy, and I think especially since he was a quarterback he understands things. Very positive guy, not afraid to compete.”

And redshirt freshman running back Weston Bridges said Jefferson’s attitude rubs off on the rest of the tailbacks.

“What I like about La’Darius is that he wants it,” said Bridges, who had six carries for 18 yards — his first carries of his MSU career. “He always pushes himself, which allows us to push each other at the end of the day. He’s very competitive, which we like. He did very good and showed a lot of flashes as a true freshman.”

Jefferson, along with Bridges, running back Connor Heyward and quarterback Brian Lewerke, combined for 160 yards on 47 carries, and scored all four of MSU’s touchdowns — Lewerke's first was from 3-yards out with 10:57 left in the second quarter and a 5-yarder a little over eight minutes later, while Heyward's 2-yarder was with 10:24 remaining in the third and Jefferson's 5-yard run was with 4:18 left in the same quarter.

Even though LJ Scott was dressed, he didn’t play for the second straight game because of an ankle injury. 

“If you got a little bit of an ankle (injury) or something like that, it’s tough to be a tailback, cutting and everything,” Dantonio said.

But, Jefferson said Scott is still having an impact on the running back group, and helping him adjust to college life.

“Since the first day I got here, he called me and told me, ‘I got you and I’m gonna help you make the transition,'" Jefferson said. “So you know, just helping me with pads in the locker room, getting hand offs — he’s always a big help, that big brother that I can lean on.”

Co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner said MSU doesn’t change its game plan whether Scott plays or not. The game plan was to run the ball against CMU, said Warner, which the Spartans put an emphasis on all week during practice.

“The first couple of weeks, we hadn’t been running as well as we need to, so it’s been an emphasis,” Warner said. “I think we did a decent job. I think our guys up front got some movement, our backs ran with more purpose and I think that’s something we can build on.”

Although Warner wants to get Scott back “get him back as soon as we can,” their depth at running back can allow the senior to heal.

“We feel good about our depth at running back, and some of those guys stepped up today,” Warner said. “Obviously, the offensive line was a big part of that and they gave us some opportunities today, but at the same time I thought we did a good job, when there were creases of getting vertical and running with some power.”

And that running game will look to continue its success next Saturday against Northwestern, with a vote of confidence from their quarterback.

“I think our running game today was pretty good,” said Lewerke, who threw 16-of-25 for 185 yards and an interception, while running for 39 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.

Offensive line shuffle continues

Before the Spartans kicked off against Central Michigan, MSU announced starting right guard Kevin Jarvis wasn’t dressed.

This led to a rotation of tackle/guard Luke Campbell and guard Blake Bueter at right guard, while tackles Tyler Higby and Cole Chewins rotated at left tackle.

“Coach (Mark) Staten has always been a guy to rotate, you know he likes to keep us fresh throughout the game and put in as much talent as he possibly can,” starting right guard David Beedle said.

Beedle said he knows the offensive line will never be “perfect.” But, he said his fellow linemen know to support each other, no matter who’s in.

“It is what it is,” Beedle said. “Whoever is in there, it’s not going to change how we approach anything. Obviously, if they’re in there, we think they can get the job done. So, it’s been a slight adjustment, but it hasn't been anything we can’t work through.”

Tre Person gets first career start

Dantonio said cornerback Josh Butler was “hampered a little bit” before Saturday’s game, which led to sophomore safety Tre Person getting his first career start as a Spartan.

Person knew he would be starting Thursday, and said being inserted in the first unit “felt great.” And he knew he had to step up.

“I felt good out there, I felt comfortable,” said Person, who had four tackles. “It was a great experience.”