Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from 2017 season

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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 28: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans eludes Dylan Hanser #33 of the Washington State Cougars on a run play during the second half of the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

1. Brian Lewerke is a special quarterback

Going into the season, we heard about just how good Brian Lewerke was going to be and how much the coaching staff trusted him. If you were skeptical after the Tyler O’Connor debacle, you weren’t alone. No one really knew what to expect from the redshirt sophomore, especially after he broke his leg in the Michigan game last season.

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Would he be as mobile as he was before? Would his accuracy be an issue? Did he have the arm strength of a Connor Cook or was it O’Connor-like? Those questions weren’t answered right away, but they did get taken care of by the end of the regular season.

Early on, it looked like confidence was a factor in Lewerke’s lack of accuracy. He was missing some easy throws and didn’t lead the offense to many scores, but he eased into his game. He stopped relying too much on his legs and trusted his arm more, and that’s when he became more comfortable and effective in the pocket.

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Overall, Lewerke proved he has a bright future in East Lansing and he finished with over 2,700 yards passing, 559 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns. Not a bad season for a first-year starter and he seems to be a special player and leader — oh yeah, and a winner.

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