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 September 2 at Spartan Stadium.
Advertisement
Whether O’Connor is the No. 1 guy for the entire season remains to be seen. “He’s had a good enough camp to say that at this point”.
Without question, the biggest off-season storyline surrounding the Michigan State Spartans as they head into 2016 looking to defend their 2015 Big Ten crown was who would be the starting quarterback, replacing the all-time winningest and most prolific quarterback in school history in Connor Cook.
“I think Tyler O’Connor is our quarterback right now.”, Dantonio said.
Dantonio didn’t rule out the possibility of another quarterback playing in some form this season. Dantonio said for now it would likely be junior Damion Terry, but he left the door open for redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke and possibly freshman Messiah deWeaver, though it seems less likely a true freshman would play. “He’s the No. 1 guy”.
After another week of camp and another scrimmage in which O’Connor played well, Dantonio said he was comfortable naming O’Connor the team’s starter for the season-opener. “I think Damion right now, but that remains to be seen”. It’s always nice to pinpoint one guy who is the leader and stick with him unless he proves he can’t get the job done.
Advertisement
The 6-foot-3, 222-pound O’Connor was 7-of-12 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown with eight rushes for 25 yards. He’s appeared in two games as a punter for the Spartans as well.
