'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 7

Ever see a number on a Michigan State football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Me, too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Spartan football player was the best ever to wear each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at MSU? And what kind of impact did he have on the program? 

No. 7 – Brian Hoyer

Quarterback, 2005-08, North Olmsted, Ohio

Résumé

2005: 15-23 passing, 65.2 completion percentage, 167 yards, 2 touchdowns        

2006: 82-144 passing, 56.9 completion percentage, 863 yards, 4 touchdowns, 3 interceptions

2007: 223-376 passing, 59.3 completion percentage, 2,725 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11 interception

2008: 180-353 passing, 51.0 completion percentage, 2,404 yards, 9 touchdowns, 9 interceptions

Total: 500-896 passing, 55.8 completion percentage, 6,159 yards, 35 touchdowns, 23 interceptions

Why Hoyer?

It only took one start to realize that Brian Hoyer wasn’t afraid to air out the football.

Replacing the injured Drew Stanton, Hoyer broke the program record for passing attempts in a game, firing 61 passes at Penn State in the 2006 season finale. He completed 30 of those and finished with 291 yards passing and a touchdown. The following fall, Hoyer was the Spartans' full-time starter.

During that 2007 campaign, the Ohio native had his most productive season, throwing for 2,725 yards and a career-high 20 touchdowns while leading the Spartans to the Champs Sports Bowl. Hoyer tossed four touchdown passes against Notre Dame and Penn State that season and finished his career with 35. He is eighth all-time in that category.

Hoyer wrapped up his career with 500 completions out of 896 passing attempts, which is still the fourth most in program history. He is fifth in completions and passing yards, becoming, at the time, only the third Spartan signal caller to eclipse the 6,000-yard mark.

Hoyer went undrafted in 2009 but was picked up by New England as an unrestricted free agent. He has also played for the Steelers, Browns, Cardinals, 49ers, Texans and Bears in his 10-year career. During the 2017 season, he was signed by the Patriots after he was cut by the 49ers following the Jimmy Garoppolo trade and is currently backing up Tom Brady.

Who else wore No. 7?

Mario Bongiorni (DB, 1990), Chris Cauddell (K, 1985-86), Demetrious Cox (S/CB, 2013-16), Jim DelVerne (K, 1991-92), Damon Dowdell (QB, 2001-04), Lyman Frimodig (C, 1915-16), Thomas Gortot (G, 1935-37), Walter Kutchins (End/G, 1939-40), Russell Lay (G, 1932-33), Cody White (WR, current), Keith Nichol (QB/WR, 2009-11), Tyler O’Connor (QB, 2013-16), Lavaile Richardson (WR, 1997-2000), Michael Silverstone (K, 1983), Edward Smith (QB, 1976-78), Chris Van Pelt (CB, 1979-82)

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

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