Mel Tucker breaks down Michigan State’s quarterbacks

Michigan State is still searching for its starting quarterback.

Three-year starter Brian Lewerke graduated and redshirt junior Rocky Lombardi, redshirt sophomore Theo Day and redshirt freshman Payton Thorne returned as the team’s scholarship quarterbacks while Noah Kim is a true freshman.

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson last week said the Lombardi, Day and Thorne were splitting reps. He hoped to have a better idea of who would win the job in a week or two but said the competition could stretch into the season, which is scheduled to start against Rutgers on Oct. 24.

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First-year head coach Mel Tucker on Wednesday said they’re “still right in the middle of the evaluation process.” During his radio show on Thursday night, Tucker provided additional details on the quarterback battle.

“We’ve got a strong competition there with Rocky, Theo, Payton Thorne,” Tucker said on Thursday, “and then Noah Kim, our true freshman, actually this week has shown some really good things. … All four of those guys have some redeeming qualities and they’re all different, and that’s a good thing.”

Lombardi, 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, has the edge in experience after posting a 2-1 record as a starter in 2018 while filling in for an injured Lewerke and has appeared in 16 career games. He has completed 42.9 percent (75-for-175) of his career passes for 812 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions and has 42 carries for 127 yards.

“Rocky obviously is a big, strong, physical guy,” Tucker said. “He’s an excellent leader. He’s got a strong arm and he’s a fierce competitor and I believe that your quarterback has to be your No. 1 competitor on your team.”

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Day, 6-5 and 225 pounds, didn’t play while taking a redshirt as a true freshman in 2018. He was 2-for-3 passing for 12 yards while appearing in two games last year.

“He’s got really good size, height,” Tucker said of Day. “He’s got very good arm talent and he’s a smooth guy, he doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low, but his arm talent is evident.”

Thorne, 6-2 and 210 pounds, didn’t play while taking a redshirt last year. The former three-star recruit’s dad is Jeff Thorne, who was a quarterback at Eastern Illinois and is the head coach at North Central College in Illinois, which won the Division III national title last season.

“Payton Thorne is a guy that’s got great mobility, very good instincts,” Tucker said. “He’s also a coach’s kid and so he understands the game. He’s very mature and shows leadership ability and has got command of the huddle.”

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Kim, 6-2 and 170 pounds, is a three-star recruit from Westfield High School in Chantilly, Va. He threw for 6,756 yards and 87 touchdowns and rushed for 1,056 yards and 23 scores while posting a 41-2 record as a three-year starter.

“Noah is a young kid but he’s got some moxie about him,” Tucker said. “He’s got a live arm. He won a lot of games in high school and when he gets his opportunities to go in there, he just seems to make plays. He takes really good notes in the meetings. When you ask him questions, he has the answers.”

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