East Lansing — It caught some by surprise at July’s Big Ten media days when Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh sat at the podium and described his reasons for taking less money than he could have made elsewhere to come back to the Spartans.

There he was, this 18-year-old star football player — speaking in Las Vegas, no less — playing a position that begets money and fame and privilege immeasurable.

Instead, Marsh put the focus on his deep connection to God.

“All money is not good money,” Marsh said. “So I'm building something here at Michigan State, a foundation, a brotherhood, a family. And I think that's more important than money. I think family and God is more important than materialistic things.”

Family and God have been two of the big themes of Michigan State’s offseason, at

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