Michigan State Football: 5 position battles to watch this fall

Nov 22, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Damion Terry (6) drops back to pass the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

5. Backup QB

Why is this such an important position battle to watch over the course of the season? Well, whoever wins the backup quarterback job this year will likely have a leg up to replace Connor Cook next season.

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First, you have Tyler O’Connor who is listed as Cook’s backup at the moment, but head coach Mark Dantonio has said that the backup battle is as close as it has ever been. O’Connor is a junior who is looking to solidify his position behind Cook, waiting to be the team’s starter next year.

O’Connor is a rare kid because he could very well end up never starting a game at Michigan State, but he has yet to transfer because he wants to help the team in any way possible — just check out the backup punter on the MSU depth chart.

Damion Terry is seemingly everyone’s favorite to land the job next season. He came out of high school in Erie, Penn., as a four-star dual-threat quarterback and he has the arm and speed to become an elite college player.

Everyone sees the incredible potential when looking at his list of skills and Terry could very well become something great under center next year.

Whoever performs the best this fall in mop-up duty will likely be your future QB.

Next: 4. Defensive Tackle