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Michigan State junior cornerback Darian Hicks started 10 games last season, but he lost his starting job and has been running second team this spring. On Friday, Hicks returned an interception for a touchdown in his bid to win back his starting job.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State's defense beat the Spartans' offense in the first official spring scrimmage of 2015, but the real surprise was how they did it, according to the school release.

Sophomore safety Montae Nicholson returned two interceptions for touchdowns -- at least one of them thrown by third-year starter Connor Cook -- and embattled cornerback Darian Hicks returned another interception for a score in Michigan State's closed scrimmage.

According to the school release, Nicholson's interception returns were 53 and 54 yards, and Hicks' went for 83 yards.

Other information released from the school indicates that sophomore defensive tackle Malik McDowell stopped redshirt freshman tailback Madre London at the goal line on fourth down.

Coach Mark Dantonio said Thursday McDowell had established himself as a starter at defensive tackle, though he had given no indication the Spartans' self-styled "No Fly Zone" was expected to perform big in spring drills.

Michigan State, which is eight practices into the 15-workout spring session, is trying to replace projected first-round draft pick Trae Waynes at cornerback and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Kurtis Drummond at safety.

The cornerback position is the most unsettled on the team, with Hicks trying to win back his started job from senior Arjen Colquhoun and juniors Demetrious Cox and Jermaine Edmondson, all of whom entered Friday ahead of him on the depth chart according to Dantonio.

In fact, the head coach didn't mention Hicks when first asked about the cornerbacks, and later said that Hicks had "slipped his mind" during Thursday's media briefing.

"He (Hicks) is having a good spring, I guess I just sort of forgot him,'' Dantonio said on Thursday. "Darian has been solid. Darian needs to play on. He needs to play on. When you make a mistake, you need to be able to play on. Just like when I watched him up here today, he was very competitive and he was getting after people. He has been solid. I guess he slipped my mind.''

Michigan State is expected to release more information on the scrimmage later in the evening.

The Spartans' spring drills culminate with the annual Green-White game on April 25 at Spartan Stadium.

Montae Nicholson returned two interceptions for touchdowns (53 and 54 yards) and recorded three tackles and two PBUs. pic.twitter.com/b5YvpxGeY5 — Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 10, 2015

Darian Hicks returned an interception 83 yards to open the scoring in Friday's controlled scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/UxX4sVvAkO — Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 10, 2015

Riley Bullough celebrates after a goal-line stand, as Malik McDowell stuffed Madre London on fourth-and-goal play. pic.twitter.com/auBKqbJ5Br — Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 10, 2015