Michigan State Football: Mark Dantonio Yet To Name Starting Quarterback
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has yet to name the starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against Northwestern.
After Tyler O’Connor‘s second benching of the season in Michigan State’s 31-14 loss to Brigham Young on Saturday, the Spartans have listed three quarterbacks at the top of the depth chart going into next Saturday’s homecoming game against Northwestern.
Fifth-year senior Tyler O’Connor, who started the first five games of the season at quarterback for the Spartans, has been pulled twice this season, once against Wisconsin when he was replaced by redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke and again against Brigham Young, being replaced by junior Damion Terry. All three quarterbacks are listed at the top of the Michigan State depth chart, ahead of freshman Messiah deWeaver.
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When asked at his Tuesday press conference who Saturday’s starting quarterback would be, head coach Mark Dantonio said, “those things will stay in-house, obviously… We’re basing our decisions right now to bold (list as a starter) all three of those guys based on Saturday’s performance, and then we go from there.”
Dantonio added that he “did not think (O’Connor) played poorly, but there’s got to be more production, more production than what there is.”
Dantonio also said on Tuesday that the Spartans “don’t want to have a QB controversy.”
O’Connor, who was the expected heir apparent to Connor Cook, has struggled so far this season. He has averaged less than 200 passing yards per game and has thrown eight touchdowns and five interceptions.
Terry completed six of ten passes for 63 yards, rushing for a touchdown and throwing an interception after replacing O’Connor against Brigham Young. Lewerke completed two of four passes for 26 yards when he replaced O’Connor against Wisconsin.
At his press conference on Tuesday, Dantonio said that Michigan State’s play calling process would not change. Dantonio has also said that all three quarterbacks will be off-limits to reporters this week.
Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) is currently on its first three-game losing streak since 2009 and is below .500 for the first time since 2012.
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Michigan State will host Northwestern (2-3, 1-1) at its homecoming game on Saturday at 3:30 on Big Ten Network.