Dantonio: Tyler O’Connor to start at QB in Spartans’ opener

EAST LANSING – Tyler O’Connor said all spring and summer that he feels like Michigan State’s starting quarterback job is his for the taking.

Mark Dantonio confirmed it Monday, saying the fifth-year senior will be under center when the 11th-ranked Spartans open their season against Furman on Sept. 2 at Spartan Stadium.

“I think Tyler O’Connor’s our quarterback right now. He’s the No. 1 guy,” Dantonio said before MSU’s practice. “He’s had a good enough camp to say that right now. But will the other guys play? Possibly. But he’s our No. 1 guy. … I could say right now he’ll start Week 1.”

O’Connor is 1-0 as a starting quarterback after leading MSU to a 17-14 victory at Ohio State last season, when he took over for injured three-year starter Connor Cook. The 6-foot-3, 228-pounder from Lima, Ohio, went 7 of 12 for 89 yards in a touchdown in that game and is 34 of 54 for 374 yards with four TDs and an interception in 14 career games. He’s also rushed for 94 yards and two scores on 28 attempts.

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It’s a better feeling this time for O’Connor, who lost out on a four-way quarterback race to Cook in 2013. O’Connor beat out junior Damion Terry for the starting job this year.

“It’s a long process here at Michigan State, especially when you go through the situations I’ve been in,” said O’Connor, who got word of Dantonio’s affirmation during practice. “But it certainly does come full circle, and that’s something that coach D preaches from day one – your time will come, no matter what, as long as you work hard, do the right things and respect the process we have here at Michigan State. …

“I’m where I feel I should have been a long time ago. That being said, it’s finally my turn, and I’m excited about it.”

Dantonio said he felt O’Connor “played well” during the Spartans’ second scrimmage on Saturday, another victory by the defense. The 10th-year coach said Terry and redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke are in a battle for the second-string quarterback job.

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The 6-4, 232-pound Terry is 14 of 26 for 103 yards and no TDs or interceptions in 15 games the past two seasons. Dantonio gave his veteran the slight edge over Lewerke.

“Damion’s had a good camp as well,” co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner said. “But Tyler, really from day one, felt this was his job to win, went out and went after it. It was obvious to us, how he approached each and every day.”