Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

Michigan State's improved recruiting has changed the program's appearance.

That was the assessment of the Big Ten Network crew who attended MSU's practice today, one shared by MSU coach Mark Dantonio.

"The m.o. for us is we've got guys who've played, other guys who we lost but a great foundation," Dantonio said on today's BTN Live broadcast, noting the more than 30 players returning with extensive experience. "And the addition of some young players, they're learning... We're as deep as we've ever been, quite honestly. We've got good players, we're deep. That's got to transition into wins and we've got to get our guys some game experience, but I feel good about us."

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Watching the Spartans, even for just one practice, the difference was apparent to the BTN crew, who have been visiting MSU for years in the preseason and seeing MSU in the Big Ten championship game regularly as well.

"Michigan State has all the talent that anybody else in the Eastern Division has and they will compete for the championship," BTN's Gerry DiNardo said on the show. "The thing that jumped out today is in Mark Dantonio's 10th year, the elite recruits we watched practice today is a little bit new. We've said a lot it was a developmental program, he wasn't getting the elite recruits, but in this year 10, they're as talented as Ohio State and Michigan.

"This Eastern Division? These three teams, I'll tell you, you can flip a coin."

The young players have made enough of an impact that Dantonio is glad to discuss them.

He noted that receiver Donnie Corley will play and the other three freshmen receivers have a good chance to play as long as they continue to progress. He cited freshman defensive linemen Mike Panasiuk and Auston Robertson as other freshmen who will see the field and likely work their way into the two-deep. A new name: freshman offensive lineman Thiyo Lukusa is in the two deep as one of the Top 10 offensive linemen which impressed Dantonio because "you know how tough it is to play there" as a freshman.

Though Michigan State won the Big Ten title last season and has the slogan of playing for the Back to Back, the BTN crew opened their broadcast with a discussion of the state of the program. All three - host Dave Revsine, DiNardo and analyst Howard Griffith - said they consider the program reloading, not rebuilding.

"This team isn't going anywhere, they're going to be right where they are," Griffith said. "One of the things that has happened, you talk about building that foundation and that's what they've done a great job of doing. Then they needed to take that next step and the next step was going after those elite recruits. They're getting them now because we just watched a freshman class that is as talented as any that we've seen so far.

"Maybe it's because of what's going on at Michigan, what's going on at Ohio State that people say, maybe Michigan State's got to fall off. But they're not falling off."

QB RACE: The two leading quarterback contenders, Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry, sat for an interview and noted that it's a more interesting competition than has occurred three years ago because at that time, when they battled Connor Cook, they were the young players. Now they're trying to win the job as upperclassmen.

"It's a long preseason and you really look at it as competing against yourself," said O'Connor, believed by many to be the front-runner. "You don't compete against each other because you're never out there at the same time on the field."

Terry noted the change in their experience.

"He's a senior, (I'm) a junior, so we have to take the lead more and bring the younger guys with us," he said. "It's fun, we embrace (the competition.) We're competitors and we're not going to hide from a challenge. We fight and compete every day."

Terry said the best way to lead is to be approachable "because all eyes are on you at all times."

Offensive coordinator Dave Warner didn't offer any hints.

"It's been very exciting to see those guys mature since last spring and I think they're both performing at a high level," he said. "You've got Damion Terry and Brian Lewerke both pushing Tyler O'Connor, who's obviously got the experience. But those guys are growing. Good competition, it;s fun to be a part of it."

INJURIES: Dantonio mentioned a few items, that Terry didn't practice today, though he didn't say why. He also said freshman receiver Justin Layne missed a few days of practice but is back now.

"When you're out a couple days like Justin was, and you miss time, it's tough to get it back," he said.

Contact Mark Snyder atmsnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra appon iTunesandAndroid!

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