Michigan State Football: Tyler O’Connor signs deal with Bengals

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O'Connor (7) passes the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O'Connor (7) passes the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Michigan State football quarterback Tyler O’Connor signed a deal as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals.

Not many people saw this coming, but Tyler O’Connor has signed a deal to join the Cincinnati Bengals. After a lackluster senior season with Michigan State football, the Bengals are giving him a shot to prove himself in training camp.

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Moreover, he will be joining his hometown team, looking to make some noise this offseason. He passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior for Michigan State. He did, however, fall short of expectations.

https://twitter.com/TylerOConnor7/status/858488579206656000

Joining a wealth of Spartans in Cincinnati, such as Monty Madaris, Kevin Williams and a handful of others, but most notably Darqueze Dennard, might be a good situation for O’Connor.

No, he probably won’t catch on as a member of the 53-man roster, but O’Connor could make a push for the practice squad. Teams love to have solid practice squad quarterbacks to help defenses prepare and he’s an experience pro-style passer.

Although he had one of the worst seasons for a Michigan State quarterback in recent memory (yes, fans have been spoiled over the past decade), O’Connor may need to do some tweaking and he could find himself a home on the squad.

It would defy all odds if he were to make a roster, but crazier things have happened. He won just three games as a full-time starter, but did beat teams like Notre Dame and Ohio State over his career. Can he get his confidence back or will it continue to dwindle?

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Michigan State has a solid track record of quarterbacks sent to the NFL under Mark Dantonio and O’Connor will look to become the fifth to make an NFL roster over the past decade, or so.