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Michigan State Quarterback Controversy Emerges In Loss To BYU

By Colton Wesley

Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O
Oct 8, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O /

Quarterback controversy in full swing

When Tyler O’Connor was named the Spartans’ starting quarterback for their season opener against Furman, it was no surprise. O’Connor had been Connor Cook’s backup in 2015, leading the Spartans to an important win over Ohio State when Cook was injured and took most of the first-team reps in camp. However, in recent weeks O’Connor has come under fire for his unimpressive performances, particularly his three-interception game in Michigan State’s 30-6 loss to Wisconsin on September 24.

After O’Connor led Michigan State to only seven points and 103 yards through three quarters against BYU on Saturday, head coach Mark Dantonio opted to pull O’Connor and put in junior backup Damion Terry, a dual-threat change-of-pace quarterback who also played in the Ohio State game a season ago. Terry threw an interception on his first drive but led the Spartans to a touchdown on his second and the offense equaled the production it produced under O’Connor, seven points and 103 yards, in one quarter with Terry at the helm.

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Complicating matters is the fact that when O’Connor was pulled near the end of the Wisconsin game, it was four-star redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke who replaced him. He completed only two of four passes for 26 yards and ran for 16 yards on one carry in limited action, but his playing style is more similar to the pocket-passing quarterbacks Michigan State has deployed during the Mark Dantonio era.

With O’Connor being pulled for the second time this season and Michigan State’s chances for a Big Ten championship likely gone, there will likely be questions about the starting quarterback position for Michigan State as they prepare to take on Northwestern next week. A Lewerke-Terry tandem is not of out the question, especially considering that Dantonio has deployed two-quarterback systems before, and Dantonio might consider it time to start preparing for the future by starting one of the current backups who will be leading the offense in 2017, maybe even four-star true freshman Messiah deWeaver, who has not played a down yet this season.

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