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Michigan State Football: Darrell Stewart Jr. can be ‘the guy’ on offense

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 02: Darrell Stewart Jr. #25 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to get around the tackle of Marcus Milton #14 of the Bowling Green Falcons during the first half at Spartan Stadium on September 2, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 02: Darrell Stewart Jr. #25 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to get around the tackle of Marcus Milton #14 of the Bowling Green Falcons during the first half at Spartan Stadium on September 2, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football is looking for ‘the guy’ in the pass game for Brian Lewerke and it could be Darrell Stewart Jr.

All offseason, Mark Dantonio has been hoping to find ‘the guy’ in the passing game to assist Brian Lewerke. Top receiver R.J. Shelton is gone and second-leading receiver Donnie Corley was dismissed from the team, leaving just a handful of relatively inexperienced targets.

More: MSU Football: 5 bold predictions for September

One of those targets is lightly-used junior Darrell Stewart Jr. He emerged as the team’s top kick and punt returner and no one knew how much of an impact he’d have on offense as well. In Week 1 against Bowling Green, it was clear his impact was major.

Stewart Jr. caught six passes for 85 yards and rushed three times for 28 yards. How productive was that compared to the rest of his college career? He had just three receptions for 29 yards in the two previous seasons with the Spartans. He has, though, never reached the end zone.

On Saturday, he looked every bit the part of the next go-to receiver for the Spartans. It seems like there’s a breakout receiver every year, and this time it might just be Stewart Jr. He was shifty, quick and showed off good hands in the win. This might just be the start of his rise toward No. 1.

Sure, it’s early in the season and probably too early to tell, but the first game of his junior year showed promise — something the offense desperately needed.

Related Story: MSU Football: 10 bold predictions for 2017

If Lewerke can develop a strong connection with Stewart Jr. throughout the season as well as Trishton Jackson and Felton Davis III, this offense could make a complete 180 turn in the right direction.

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