Michigan State Football: How do 2021 position groups compare to 2020?

Quarterbacks

Better or worse (than 2020): Better, on paper

Listen, I like what Michigan State has in the quarterback room this season compared to last year, but it’s all potential-based excitement.

Rocky Lombardi was not the ideal starter a year ago and I don’t think Michigan State will have limitations like it had last season through the air but it’s tough to say what we can expect from Anthony Russo and Payton Thorne when neither has much experience against Power Five opponents.

Thorne came in during the Ohio State game and started against Penn State and fared pretty well, but two games is not enough of a sample size to say whether a quarterback is going to be successful or not.

Russo, on the other hand, started for the better part of three years with Temple but he did have a turnover and accuracy problem. He liked to take shots but many believe that his turnover and completion percentage numbers weren’t great because of the lack of talent around him. We’ll find out soon enough if that’s the case because Michigan State’s offense has plenty of it.

Lastly, Noah Kim looked far improved in the spring and I’m a big Hamp Fay fan, so there’s a good chance that the depth is far better even with Rocky and Theo Day gone.