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Michigan State Football: Brian Lewerke ranked as nation’s No. 8 QB by Sporting News

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans warms up prior to the start of the game against Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Spartan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans warms up prior to the start of the game against Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Spartan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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After an impressive sophomore year, Brian Lewerke is earning some high praise from national publications, such as Sporting News.

When you earn the starting quarterback job at Michigan State, you have to expect to be placed under a microscope. Basically any quarterback that has started under Mark Dantonio, with the exception of a couple of guys, has made it to the NFL.

Must Read: Brian Lewerke has tools to become legitimate Heisman contender

First there was Brian Hoyer who gave way to Kirk Cousins and then Andrew Maxwell had a one-year stint before Connor Cook. Since then, Tyler O’Connor and Damion Terry split time during the 2016 season, but Brian Lewerke took over as the full-time starter in 2017.

Lewerke is considered the next great Dantonio-coached quarterback and he proved to be a dynamic threat as a sophomore and potentially the most talented of the bunch.

Yes, even more talented than Hoyer, Cousins and Cook who are all in the NFL.

The sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., has patiently waited his turn and has overcome a devastating leg injury suffered in 2016 to be QB1 for the Spartans and the nation is taking notice.

In fact, Sporting News released its list of the nation’s top 25 quarterbacks heading into the 2018 season and Lewerke was ranked No. 8. That’s high praise for a kid who has just one year of full-time starting experience under his belt.

Listed ahead of Lewerke, per Sporting News, are Missouri’s Drew Lock (7), Washington’s Jake Browning (6), West Virginia’s Will Grier (5), Arizona’s Khalil Tate (4), Georgia’s Jake Fromm (3), Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (2) and Penn State’s Trace McSorley (1).

Lewerke ranks ahead of guys like Dwayne Haskins (16), Shea Patterson (15), Jalen Hurts (11) and Jarrett Stidham (9).

Next: Michigan State's top 2019 NFL Draft prospects

The 2018 season could be a special one for the junior quarterback.

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