Michigan State solid with QB Brian Lewerke; changes coming behind him
(Note: This is part one of a preview series reviewing Michigan State’s 2017 position groups)
EAST LANSING — Michigan State made a remarkable seven-win turnaround in a year.
It did so with a new starting quarterback in Brian Lewerke, who appears to have a stronghold on the job for the foreseeable future.
Next season, the Spartans are expected to return nearly 85 percent of their roster and will lose only three starters from a team that went 10-3 and won the Holiday Bowl. But none may be as important as Lewerke, who could challenge Connor Cook's career record of 34 wins as MSU's starting quarterback if he keeps progressing.
What worked
Lewerke took over the starting job as a redshirt sophomore and surpassed expectations, showing the ability to both run and throw the football to finish with the second-best single season of total yardage in program history (3,352) and 25 total touchdowns. His ability to run the ball changed the dynamic of MSU’s offense with more designed runs and read-option calls, as well as impacted the passing game by scrambling to extend plays. The emergence of Lewerke, who took more than 95 percent of the snaps this fall, precipitated the postseason transfer of Messiah deWeaver. The second-year redshirt freshman announced Monday that he plans to attend East Mississippi Community College after he completed his second season at MSU.
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What didn’t work
Lewerke struggled at times with downfield passing, either underthrowing or sailing throws to open receivers. Like other facets of the Spartans’ developing offense, the inconsistent pass game would be either feast or famine. That included back-to-back 400-yard performances to establish MSU’s top two single-game records, followed by two games with 151 combined passing yards.
Who’s back
Brian Lewerke (6-foot-3, 212 pounds), junior; Rocky Lombardi (6-4, 216 pounds), redshirt freshman; Mickey Macius (6-2, 211 pounds), senior.
Who’s gone
Damion Terry, Messiah deWeaver.
Who’s coming in
Theo Day (6-5, 185 pounds, Dearborn Divine Child); La’Darius Jefferson (6-2, 215 pounds, Muskegon); Javez Alexander (6-2, 190 pounds, Sandusky, Ohio).
More:Michigan State football recruiting: Meet Spartans' 2018 class
2018 outlook
Lewerke could be a captain as a junior, and the offense will continue to morph along with his varied talents in his second year as a full-time starter. He needs to show more consistency with his accuracy and deep passes, which would allow him to run less frequently and perhaps even more effectively. Lombardi, about whom coaches raved, emerges as the backup going into spring practice with the transfer of deWeaver. MSU likely will redshirt Day, a true pocket passer. That could leave the versatile Jefferson or incoming wide receiver Alexander, who both played QB in high school, as third-string options in a pinch to preserve Day’s redshirt.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!