Michigan State's Brian Lewerke still starting QB but backups battling
EAST LANSING – Brian Lewerke continues to be Michigan State’s leading quarterback. The competition to be his backup remains undecided.
Coach Mark Dantonio on Monday said he liked what he saw from sophomore Lewerke during the Spartans’ scrimmage Thursday, which was won by the defense, 27-24.
“Very crisp. Brian Lewerke looked very good in the scrimmage,” Dantonio said. “I thought he played with poise and he did a nice job, a very good job.”
Dantonio said both senior Damion Terry and redshirt freshman Messiah deWeaver also “did some good things” during the scrimmage as MSU heads into its third week of camp before the Sept. 2 opener against Bowling Green.
“Sort of the dog days out here a little bit,” Dantonio said. “But right now, I think coming off our scrimmage last Thursday, I’m really impressed with how our guys competed. I think right now we’ve got a lot of competition at a lot of different positions. Certainly some guys have secured their positions as well. We’re staying healthy, which I think one of the big things you want to do at this point and time, so that’s a positive for us. We’re excited about the future and excited about what’s going on here.”
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ANOTHER ROOKIE? Wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel said freshman Laress Nelson has impressed on offense and special teams, and Samuel believes the 5-8, 179-pound Florida native could join Hunter Rison and Cody White in playing immediately.
“The way he catches the ball is really crisp. He reminds me a lot of Macgarrett Kings,” Samuel said of Nelson. “He snatches the ball out of the air, he runs his routes hard. I’ve really been impressed with how he learns, too, in picking up our offense. And he looks smooth at punt return.”
Nelson is competing with sophomore Darrell Stewart and junior Brandon Sowards for return duties. That alone could get him playing time, Samuel said.
“If he’s the best punt returner, he’s the best punt returner,” Samuel said. “We’re gonna put the best guys out there.”
BUTLER DOING IT: Co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said Justin Layne and Josiah Scott continue to have the edge at cornerback, but he also is impressed with the development of sophomore cornerback Josh Butler.
“I’m really proud of him,” Tressel said. “He has improved as much as anybody from spring to this fall.”
NEW GUY: MSU put a new player on its roster Monday, adding Cleveland native Joe Palange. The 6-1, 250-pound graduate transfer from Utah State played all 12 games for the Aggies last season, including two starts, while also spending time as a blocking tight end. Palange also played at Oklahoma in 2014 and William & Mary in 2012.