EAST LANSING – Nine of Michigan State's starting 11 on defense were all but cemented at the start of preseason camp -- it was 10 before senior linebacker Ed Davis went down with a season-ending knee injury -- and linebacker Chris Frey (in Davis' old spot) and cornerback Vayante Copeland are the leaders for the last two.
That's not much in the way of uncertainty, and that's life for a No. 5-ranked team. But there are some interesting battles for defensive snaps, reserves grappling with each other to be in the playing group.