There is no starting quarterback for the MSU football team, but head coach John L. Smith has narrowed his selection to two candidates.
At a Monday press conference, Smith said sophomore Drew Stanton wouldn't be the starter on Saturday at Rutgers, thus leaving senior Damon Dowdell or redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves battling for the spot this week.
"Here's how we decide - whoever does better on punt team doesn't start (at quarterback)," Smith said jokingly.
Both Dowdell and Reaves have spent the same number of years in Smith's system - two - so there is no advantage in that area.
Smith said in this situation, it is probably the case the senior would get the start.
However, he isn't 100 percent convinced that Dowdell is the guy, saying Reaves still has a chance to be the starter.
"(Dowdell) is not superior to Reaves," Smith said. "Stephen, the last week, has shown a ton of improvement."
Smith also considers the fact Reaves is a freshman and has no collegiate football experience.
"Maybe it would be better for (Reaves) to sit one (game)," Smith said.
"In a perfect world, you want a kid to be in the program two years before he starts a game."
Junior center Chris Morris said it doesn't matter to him who he is snapping the ball to on Saturday, agreeing with Smith.
Smith also added Stanton would practice this week and that he's still in the mix to start later in the season.
"The way we look at it, we have three quarterbacks, and they are all capable of playing," Smith said.
Safety switch
Even though junior strong safety Eric Smith is healthy after coming off a knee injury, he will not start in Saturday's game against Rutgers.
In Eric Smith's absence, senior free safety and captain Jason Harmon will move to strong safety and sophomore Greg Cooper will start at the free safety position against Rutgers.
Head coach John L. Smith said Harmon and Cooper can play both safety positions, but that it is better for the team to play Harmon at strong safety, and Cooper at free safety.
"We have a lot of confidence in Coop," John L. Smith said.
"Last year, he was forced to learn all the duties and now he is capable of making all the adjustments."
John L. Smith added that Eric Smith would see some time on the field and when that happens, Harmon would move back over to free safety and Smith would play his natural position to strong safety.
Eric Smith injured his knee last season and had to have a screw put in it. The screw was removed last week.
Fat bet
Junior defensive tackle Brandon McKinney and John L. Smith have a bet going to see who can reach their ideal weight first.
McKinney's goal is to get to 315 pounds before head coach John L. Smith gets to 180 pounds.
Currently, McKinney said he weighs in at somewhere between 318 and 320 pounds. Smith's weight is unknown.
"I don't know what it is, but I know he's not at 180 yet," McKinney said.
McKinney said he really isn't on a diet and eats healthy at every meal.
"I don't necessarily get ridiculous, but I make the right choices (when eating a meal)," McKinney said.
Staff writer Joe Guillen contributed to this report.
