Michigan State football’s quarterback room set up nicely for long term

Katin Houser just made Jay Johnson and Mel Tucker very happy coaches on Sunday.

Michigan State football landed their Plan A target following AJ Duffy’s commitment to Florida State and the Spartan coaches had to work hard to flip him from Boise State. The four-star prospect rose to the top of Michigan State’s quarterback big board for the 2022 class after Duffy committed to the Seminoles, joining Nicco Marchiol at the top.

This comes one class after landing Hamp Fay who was a top quarterback target of the new staff despite not being the highest rated. Many believe he was rated so low because he suffered an injury in high school and didn’t have a ton of film.

Fay’s commitment was big for the staff, however, and it looked like he may push Payton Thorne, Theo Day, or Noah Kim for the starting job in 2021 — that was before Thorne’s breakout at the end of the 2020 season and Anthony Russo’s transfer.

Michigan State football’s QB outlook

Thorne now looks like the favorite to win the starting job and if his performances against Penn State and Ohio State were no fluke, Michigan State could have a 2-3 year starter on its hands.

Even if Russo proves to be the best option this season, Thorne, Fay, Houser, and Kim would battle for the starting job next year.

A quarterback room with Fay, Houser, Thorne, and Kim is lightyears better than what Michigan State had in 2020 and this sets the Spartans up for the long run. Michigan State has multiple legitimate starting-caliber quarterbacks on the roster for 2021 and for the foreseeable future.

And then you have to look at the 2023 class where five-star Dante Moore could be on the table but there are also some elite options who have shown interest in Michigan State.

Johnson has his quarterback room set up nicely for the future, and it’s a refreshing feeling.