Jonathan Smith seeing buy-in, growth as Michigan State football closes spring practice

EAST LANSING – Jonathan Smith and his Michigan State football program will be “breaking bread together” a day before Easter.As a way to celebrate the end of spring practices. And as a communal gathering for the Spartans and their families who will get to watch them don the pads and work out one more time before the offseason arrives.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We will get some work done on Saturday,” Smith said Thursday after the penultimate of 15 practices. “A little bit of scrimmage in, a little bit of practice in. But I really feel good about the work that we've gotten done over the last five weeks. Guys have stayed into it and continue to work.”When they reconvene full-go later this summer, the target date of the Aug. 30 season-opener against Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium will be in sight and the roster should be nearly, if not completely, set for the start of Smith’s second season at the helm. Coming off a 5-7 debut in 2024, the 46-year-old Smith and his staff ar...