Michigan State football: Offensive success doesn’t hinge on QB in 2023

The success on the offensive side of the ball for Michigan State football may not be on the quarterback’s shoulders.

The 2023 season is right around the corner. For Michigan State football, the nation is wondering how the future quarterback will perform. The only right answer is: we don’t know.

What we do know is: Michigan State returns and adds vital tools needed to make any starting quarterback’s job easier. As history has shown, Mel Tucker and Michigan State are fully comfortable being unknown. The Spartans have a great opportunity to put any quarterback who starts in a comfortable position to succeed.

The good isn’t gone 

The college football universe was shocked by the departures of Keon Coleman and Payton Thorne. Once the smoke cleared, the narrative became “Michigan State officially has no weapons to compete at a high level.”

How do you replace Thorne? How do you find an elite playmaker like Coleman? The answer is you just move on. For the Spartans, the biggest thing being overlooked is the offensive line talent and experience returning.

For anyone who watches football, it’s well-known the offensive line can make or break you. This year could very well be the best offensive line the Spartans offense has had under Mel Tucker. Michigan State returns two valuable leaders in J.D. Duplain and Nick Samac surrounded by new young talent like Geno VanDeMark. If the offensive line can live up to the excitement, they alone could make Noah Kim or Katin Hauser’s lives easier.

Fresh start 

For Michigan State, the word on the street is that the Spartans are full of unknowns. As true as that is, sometimes unknowns are good for programs. For the Spartans, it should at least be exciting.

The quarterbacks are going to be led by a brand new guy, then add running back, then add any wide receiver besides Tre Mosley. It’s safe to say the Spartans are essentially a brand-new team surrounded by an experienced offensive line that is expected to take a big step forward. For the Spartans, that shouldn’t sound terrible at all. Finding playmakers to excel has never been an issue for Michigan State and Jay Johnson. The issue often has been protection, our best position coming back is also the most important one.

The key for Michigan State has to be chemistry. If they can build that early, the new-look Spartans may be able to turn heads. The new additions of Alante Brown, Keyshawn Blackstock, Jaren Mangham, and Nathan Carter can’t be overlooked either.

Confidence 

No matter what phase Michigan State football is in during the offseason, the players and coaches always have kept cool. Even now with everything being said about Michigan State, the program remains silent but confident.

A better example could be the quarterback situation. Tucker clearly has trust in Houser and Kim, he never jumped in the portal for a quarterback once. Not even having a quarterback visit East Lansing. If you can recall, when Thorne was just getting his moment, Tucker still brought in transfer Anthony Russo to assist with depth and competition. Clearly, the coaches have confidence in both guys in some way.

Michigan State as a team knows they have a chance to do something really special, better yet, they know they have the players and depth to do it. The team’s confidence and morale have to be up right now.

Finally, for Michigan State, Tucker’s guys are starting to move into starting roles. The fans should be just as confident and excited as the players are heading into the 2023 football season.