EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State removed the last shades of doubt about who will replace Connor Cook under center this season.

Head coach Mark Dantonio said Monday that Tyler O'Connor will start the season opener at quarterback.

Tyler O'Connor will start the season as Michigan State's quarterback. AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

"He's the No. 1 guy," Dantonio said. "He's had a good enough camp to say that at this point."

O'Connor played in four games last season for the Spartans, throwing for 133 yards and two touchdowns. The fifth-year senior most notably started during the team's upset win against Ohio State in Columbus in November 2015, when Cook was injured.

O'Connor said earlier this month that he has approached the offseason and this training camp with the mentality that he's the starting quarterback. He has been the presumptive heir to Cook for the past year, but Dantonio didn't publicly declare him a starter until Monday.

Dantonio didn't rule out the possibility of another quarterback playing in some form this season. Senior Damion Terry and sophomore Brian Lewerke are competing for the No. 2 spot. Dantonio said that battle will continue this week in camp.

Michigan State opens its season at home on Sept. 2 against Furman.