Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Michigan State football: QB Brian Lewerke on preseason Heisman watch lists

By Colton Wesley

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Dylan Hanser #33 of the Washington State Cougars on a run play during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Dylan Hanser #33 of the Washington State Cougars on a run play during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Michigan State Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke is showing up on preseason Heisman Trophy watch lists ahead of the 2018 season.

With the Michigan State football team looking to build on a ten-win 2017 season which included a Holiday Bowl win, junior starting quarterback Brian Lewerke is getting some preseason attention from national writers.

Chris Johnson of Sports Illustrated listed Lewerke as an “intriguing dark horse” in the Heisman race, saying that “Lewerke’s output as a runner and passer could keep him in the Heisman mix, provided the Spartans make good on their preseason expectations by staying in the playoff hunt.”

Kevin McGuire of Athlon Sports ranks Lewerke fourth among Big Ten Heisman candidates for the award but notes that a win would be unlikely unless Lewerke can improve his numbers.

Conor Muldowney of Spartan Avenue thinks Lewerke is a Heisman dark horse, saying his numbers as a first-year starter compare favorably to those of former Spartans starters and current NFL quarterbacks Connor Cook and Kirk Cousins.

Despite the positive press, Lewerke faces an uphill battle if he wants to hoist the Trophy at the end of the season. Four of the last five winners played for teams that made the College Football Playoff, an uphill battle for the Spartans given their in-conference competition, which includes four other teams (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin) with playoff aspirations of their own.

Lewerke has also lacked the high-volume output that previous Trophy winners have produced. The last four quarterbacks to win the award combined for 153 passing touchdowns (38.3 apiece) in the seasons in which they won their Heisman awards, while Lewerke threw 20 in 13 games last season.

If Lewerke is going to make a run at the award this season, he will need to get some help from returning starters L.J. Scott and Felton Davis at running back and wide receiver respectively, and an offensive line that lacks the experience Lewerke is used to, including a new center, Matt Allen.

Next. 3 questions the Lions will answer against the Raiders. dark

The Spartans will host Utah State on Friday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network in the season opener.

Home/Michigan State Spartans