Michigan State receivers making positive early impression

Among the questions for Michigan State football this season is who will step up to replace Tony Lippett, the 2014 Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year who has moved on to the NFL? 

There are lots of contestants, including seniors Aaron Burbridge, AJ Troup, Macgarrett Kings Jr. and DeAnthony Arnett as well as juniors Monty Madaris and R.J. Shelton. 

At the team's media day in East Lansing on Monday head coach Mark Dantonio said he likes what he has seen so far even if he doesn't know who might emerge as quarterback Connor Cook's new No. 1 target. 

"Guys are watching the ball well," Dantonio told reporters. "They look crisp. Burbridge has got to get back into shape. Macgarrett Kings has looked good since coming off of his interval test. I think R.J. Shelton is looking very, very well, Madaris, AJ Troup has looked very, very good, as well. I've been impressed more I think we know what some of our guys can do." 

Burbridge missed time in the spring with a foot injury while Kings was disciplined internally after an off-field incident in February. 

While the veterans could snap up all of the available playing time, Dantonio is also curious about a pair of freshmen. 

"I think we're looking and seeing how are our young players looking," Dantonio said. "Darrell Stewart and Felton Davis both are two guys that look the part, run the part and act the part out there, so it'll be interesting to see how they retain things and how they move forward once real pads come on and we get farther into this than two a days, or in summer camp."