Mark Dantonio: Tyler Higby is Michigan State football's No. 1 center

EAST LANSING — Michigan State appears to have one of its starting vacancies close to filled.

Coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday before practice that junior Tyler Higby has emerged from Friday’s first scrimmage of preseason camp as the No. 1 center.

Coming out of spring practices in April, sophomore Matt Allen had the lead to replace his brother, Brian, as the Spartans’ starting center and follow in the lineage of their oldest brother, Jack.

However, fourth-year junior Higby — who has started at 13 games at left guard the past two seasons — got some reps there during the spring and has seized the opportunity.

“Right now, Tyler is the No. 1 center,” Dantonio said. “I think that Matt’s going to play. He’s a young player, and he continues to improve. He’s very capable. We’ll see how it all shakes out.”

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It could take the final two scrimmages to determine a starter, Dantonio said, adding that “two days ago is like a week ago in camp.”

Dantonio did not say much about Friday’s scrimmage, though the defense emerged victorious and was wearing the green jerseys in practice Tuesday that go to the winner. The Spartans worked for “100-plus plays, easily — plus, plus, plus 100 plays,” he added.

“We played a lot and got a lot of guys working. And we really got a chance to get our younger players on film a lot. I thought that was important to see where they were at and see the way they stood up,” Dantonio said. “I think obviously, usually the defense seems to be ahead of the offense a little bit in these situations. But there were some good things offensively, too.”

MSU, which returns 19 of 22 starters, has two other spots to fill for the season at strong-side linebacker and defensive end, as well as a starting cornerback spot with sophomore Josiah Scott sidelined for about two months with an unspecified injury.

Dantonio said sophomore Tre Person “is having a good camp” at cornerback, while adding that junior Josh Butler “has been very solid.” He also cited two young players — redshirt freshman Shakur Brown as “a guy that has made plays,” and true freshman Kalon Gervin, who “looks good as well.”

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At defensive end, Dantonio hinted that sophomore Jacub Panasiuk could have the lead to start opposite junior Kenny Willekes, but he added that redshirt freshman Jack Camper “had a good scrimmage.”

Dantonio did not get into specifics about the open linebacker spot, where junior Tyriq Thompson and sophomore Brandon Randle competed for snaps during spring practice to replace Chris Frey. The 12th-year coach said Thompson “has had a good camp thus far,” while Randle “had a very good scrimmage.”

“That’s just gonna work itself out,” Dantonio said. “We got guys we can play — we can go three or four deep at that position. It’s been a positive.”

Dantonio added Jon Reschke looks healthy in his return from leaving from the program in February 2017 and subsequently suffering a serious knee injury. Dantonio said the sixth-year senior has played all three linebacker spots during camp, adding that junior returning middle linebacker Joe Bachie “has been tremendous.”

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