MSU's Lewerke, deWeaver given first taste of QB battle

EAST LANSING – Fans got their first glimpses Saturday of Brian Lewerke and Messiah deWeaver, the two newcomers in Michigan State’s quarterback competition.

Both flashed their talents, which could have them competing for the Spartans’ starting job for years to come. And both displayed their youthfulness and inexperience during the Green and White spring scrimmage.

“It comes down to decision-making, creating plays and leadership,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. “Right now Tyler (O’Connor) has done a nice job at that. The other guys have, too, but not as consistent. We'll see how they all come out in August.”

Lewerke, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder from Phoenix, Arizona, showed his passing ability with a 32-yard bullet down the seam to true freshman receiver Cam Chambers. The redshirt freshman quarterback also put his running agility on display with a 25-yard run during a frantic final drive for his Green team in the game’s waning moments.

But Lewerke’s big mistake, an interception as his team approached the red zone, cost Green a chance at a potential tying field goal attempt. He finished 2 of 9 for 42 through the air.

Quarterbacks coach Brad Salem said 19-year-old Lewerke has shown progress during a “very productive spring” and mentioned how close MSU was to burning his redshirt last fall. In preparation for the regular-season finale against Penn State, Lewerke became the de facto No. 2 quarterback behind O’Connor because the Spartans didn’t expect either Connor Cook or Damion Terry to be able to play due to injuries.

It was a good week, more for him to press him for urgency,” Salem said of Lewerke. “He’s done a really good job in January and February. He’s come a long way. I see freshman things a little bit of times, but he has a high upside as a quarterback.”

True freshman deWeaver led his victorious White team to a touchdown on his first college drive. The 6-4, 212-pounder from Huber Heights, Ohio, completed a 12-yard pass to Josiah Price and a 15-yarder to Brandon Sowards in setting up Delton Williams’ 2-yard TD run.

Those were the only two completions in nine attempts for deWeaver, who arrived at MSU as an early enrollee in January, just weeks after his 19th birthday. His other two drives were three-and-out possessions. However, it was a favorable first impression.

“Messiah, I mean, (he’s) a high school kid,” Salem said. “He’s going to prom next week, and he took them on a touchdown drive. That’s good stuff.”