Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: 3 post-spring 2021 breakout candidates on offense

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 24: Ian Stewart #80 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a catch during warm ups prior to a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Spartan Stadium on October 24, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 24: Ian Stewart #80 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a catch during warm ups prior to a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Spartan Stadium on October 24, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – APRIL 24: Payton Thorne #10 of the Michigan State Spartans scans the field for a pass during the Spring Game at Spartan Stadium on April 24, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – APRIL 24: Payton Thorne #10 of the Michigan State Spartans scans the field for a pass during the Spring Game at Spartan Stadium on April 24, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

A lot of people expected Anthony Russo to come right in and win the starting quarterback job this spring, but clearly Payton Thorne didn’t get the memo.

The sophomore quarterback looked like the most polished quarterback in the spring game, making every throw and showing a solid connection with his receivers, namely Jayden Reed. His performance was a nice carry-over from the finale of the 2020 season when he put Michigan State in a good position to upset Penn State in Happy Valley with three touchdown passes.

Unfortunately, the Spartans lost that game but Thorne looked like a solid Big Ten starter.

Now that he has starting experience and a solid veteran quarterback pushing him to get better, it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see him have a breakout sophomore season a-la Brian Lewerke in 2017. He has enough talented pass-catchers to throw to and arguably the best backfield the Spartans have had in five years to take pressure off the passing game.

Thorne looks poised to make that sophomore leap.

dark. Next. 4 transfers MSU basketball should target

Home/Spartans Football