Michigan State football: 5 reasons Spartans can win 2018 Big Ten title

2. Brian Lewerke molding into one of nation’s best

It didn’t take long for people to realize Brian Lewerke was the best quarterback on the team in 2016, but a season-ending injury shattered Michigan State’s chances of potentially sneaking into a bowl game.

The 2017 season didn’t start off the way Lewerke would have hoped. He had a couple of bumpy performances against Notre Dame, and you could argue Michigan, too, but overall, he looked to be on the right track, in terms of development.

It wasn’t until the Northwestern game that fans started to see real change in Lewerke. He looked like a much more effective downfield passer and he was making plays with his legs as well as his arm. He finished with over 400 yards through the air and if it wasn’t for a game-deciding pick in triple overtime, it could have been his best game of the year.

That, however, was reserved for the following week against Penn State at home. He threw for over 400 yards again and led the Spartans past the Nittany Lions in upset fashion.

Three wins later and Lewerke closed the season as a top-level passer in the Big Ten and a preseason all-conference selection.

Potential is sky-high for the junior quarterback and as long as he can improve on that accuracy, he’s going to strike fear into just about every opponent. We may be witnessing the best quarterback under Mark Dantonio take shape.