The spring practices are over, but a starting quarterback is still yet to be determined.
And in an intrasquad, no-hit practice that was open to the public at Spartan Stadium Saturday, both senior Ryan Van Dyke and sophomore Jeff Smoker made their case as starters for MSU’s first regular-season game against Central Michigan on Sept. 8.
It was Smoker tossing a 60-yard bomb to sophomore receiver Charles Rogers early that drew much approval from the hundreds of fans that attended the Spartans’ last spring practice at Spartan Stadium.
And it was a 20-yard Van Dyke strike to junior receiver B.J. Lovett that also brought excitement.
But despite the stiff competition, head football coach Bobby Williams - who mentioned the possibility of a two-quarterback system earlier this spring - said there still isn’t a clearcut favorite between the two.
“Ryan has had the best spring of his career and Jeff has had a very good first spring,” Williams said. “The race is so close that we can’t determine the starting quarterback at this point. Hopefully, we’ll be able to settle on a starting quarterback in the first few weeks of preseason camp.”
Sophomore center Brian Ottney said he’s not too concerned with who he will be snapping the ball to this season, adding that both are solid at their position.
“Both guys are doing a solid job in practice and I know they are both capable of doing well,” Ottney said. “I’ll go to war with either one of them.”
While the quarterback situation is up for grabs, Williams said senior Dave Schaefer, and sophomores Dan Orner and Michael Servis will also be competing for the starting kicker position. Servis and Orner both connected on roughly 35-yard attempts in Sunday’s practice.
Looking to improve on the team’s field position, both Rogers and Lovett saw action Sunday on the field in punt and kickoff returns.
Senior receiver Herb Haygood, who returned kickoffs last season, said both players give MSU an added dimension.
“We have so much speed and size this year compared to last year,” Haygood said. “It will definitely help us gain better field position in games. Charles and B.J. are getting the experience they need and it should really help us. It will be a hard decision for the coaches to decide on who is playing on special teams.”
With many young players returning from a squad that struggled with injuries and position changes last season, Williams said another bright spot this spring has been the team’s overall leadership and attitude.
“With the addition of a few new players here and there and working with the freshman group, we are starting to develop very good team chemistry,” Williams said.
Honoring those players who have helped boost team morale and competitiveness, Williams announced Sunday that Haygood, senior linebacker Ivory McCoy and senior linebacker Josh Thornhill were announced as tri-captains for this season.
