Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio looks on during warm-ups prior to the game Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

According to Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo, the 2016 version of Michigan State Football is Mark Dantonio’s most talented.

We all know how good Michigan State Football could be in 2016, but the national media isn’t exactly hyping up the Spartans. Everything is being based off players leaving rather than those replacing the former All-Big Ten performers.

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The Big Ten Network made it out to Michigan State’s practice on Tuesday and analyst Gerry DiNardo gave his assessment of what he saw in East Lansing.

Gerry Dinardo says this is Dantonio's most talented team. Howard Griffith says MSU freshmen are as talented as any in the Big Ten — Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) August 16, 2016

Before you shrug this off as just a BTN analyst giving the Spartans some credit because he said Michigan was talented enough to win every game as well, he has a track record of being right. Back in 2013 after everyone was down on the program because of a mediocre 2012 campaign, DiNardo said the Spartans would surprise some people.

What happened in 2013? Oh, just the first Rose Bowl appearance and win in over two decades and a 13-1 overall record. Michigan State became the first Big Ten program to defeat Urban Meyer since he took over at Ohio State.

DiNardo might have a valid point here, though. Despite losing Connor Cook, Shilique Calhoun, Jack Conklin and Aaron Burbridge, the Spartans are reloading at each one of those positions. No, the starters who’re replacing those four guys may not be better, but Michigan State is deeper at each position than it was last season.

Plus, the incoming freshman class is better than any in Dantonio’s tenure. We might be seeing a record number of true freshmen earning playing time for the Spartans this year.

Could we be in for yet another surprise campaign?