3 Factors To Determine Michigan State’s QB Battle

The Spartans have two good options for QB1, but making the correct choice is crucial for 2023 and beyond...

And then there were two…

Michigan State football has had an eventful last couple weeks. Surprising for all inside and outside the program, two of the Spartans’ best players are transferring. Quarterback Payton Thorne has moved on to Auburn and wide receiver Keon Coleman is exploring his options.

Coleman was going to be MSU's best offensive player this upcoming season, but while it hurts to see the star receiver leave, the bigger need for the Spartans right now is determining who their new starting quarterback will be.

The competition is down to redshirt junior Noah Kim and redshirt freshman Katin Houser for the job. What are the biggest factors going to be when choosing the starter? Let’s discuss.

1.) Leadership

The Spartans need a new leader on offense. That’s arguably the most important part of this decision. Kim and Houser have the entire summer and fall camp to win the guys over. You don’t need to be a team captain to lead the offense, but we need signs that prove the team believes in whoever ends up being QB1.

Before Thorne transferred, Michigan State’s roster already seemed a bit torn on who was going to start at quarterback. All three spring candidates seem well liked by their peers, making it a tough decision for coaches and players. Both Kim and Houser have gotten a lot of positive responses on social media since Thorne left. The fanbase is split as well, but seems to be supportive of both.

Look Spartan Nation trust me @noah_kim12 & @katinhouser y’all in good hands #GoGreen

— maliq (@maliq_thefreak) May 1, 2023

In a young offense, everyone needs to buy in and be supportive of their quarterback. The way Kim or Houser will be set up the best for success will be by winning the team over. Whether that happens at the start of fall camp or Week 3 of the season, that is the only way the Spartans will achieve their goals.

2.) Consistency

This was a big issue for the Spartans last season. Like all players, Thorne had his ups and downs in 2022. He lacked consistency when entering Big Ten play, and had more downs than ups as the schedule got tougher through the year. Michigan State’s struggles don’t rest solely on Thorne’s shoulders, but MSU needs more consistency from its starting quarterback in 2023.

Spring was just a fraction of the full evaluation process for Michigan State’s offensive coaches. One practice won’t determine the starter, and potentially one game won’t determine who will be the long-term starter this season. While Kim was a standout at the ‘Spartan Football Kickoff’ event on April 15, that doesn’t mean he’s leading the competition. Kim made arguably the best three to four throws of the open practice, but he also misfired a handful of times, one or two of which probably should have resulted in an interception.

Kim did show consistency when he played late in games last season, albeit against backups most of the time. Still, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder led multiple scoring drives and showcased his ability in those opportunities. Houser has much less game film than Kim, having taken only six collegiate snaps, which outs more pressure on the freshman to outperform Kim in practice.

3.) Mobility

In offensive coordinator Jay Johnson’s scheme, mobility is crucial for the quarterback. Michigan State’s 2023 starter needs to be able to run the ball when defenders crash down on the tailback on read option plays, he needs to be able to throw on the run, avoid sacks with escapability and be versatile. These abilities were a part of the reason Thorne won the job in 2021.

Thorne’s mounting injuries in 2022 limited his mobility, which caused him to struggle for much of the year. When he was healthy, you could see the impact he made in 2021. Michigan State enters 2023 with an unproven run game, which only increases the need for its quarterback to be able to extend plays and, sometimes, create something out of nothing.

Houser and Kim are both mobile enough, but can they throw on the run and under pressure? That’s yet to be determined, and the answer to that question will go a long way in deciding who will be the guy this fall.

This competition could extend all the way to the last fall practice before the Spatans’ open against Central Michigan on Sept. 1. It wouldn’t be a major surprise to see the competition extend into the season itself, as both could have a shot to prove themselves against live game reps. It’s a whole new evaluation process with Thorne out of the picture, and summer conditioning and workouts are just the beginning.