Michigan State OC Jay Johnson updates Spartans' quarterback competition
By all accounts, Michigan State football is in a better place this spring than it was a year ago. The Spartans are deeper and have more healthy bodies, particularly along the offensive line, than they did in 2022.
However, unlike a year ago, MSU isn't set on who will start at quarterback this fall in East Lansing.
Incumbent starter Payton Thorne, a redshirt senior, is being challenged by redshirt junior and 2022 backup Noah Kim, as well as redshirt freshman and former four-star prospect Katin Houser.
“So far, it’s been positive," MSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson said. "Those guys have been competing well and it’s been a very competitive environment.”
While most suspect this battle to come down to Thorne and Houser, Johnson noted that all three candidates have taken equal reps in spring practice.
“I’m moving them around sometimes because I need certain guys to get certain plays that they maybe haven’t seen," he said. "We do a lot of different situational things in our practice and I need to see those guys under those certain environments.”
Johnson noted Thorne's edge in repetition and game day experience over Kim and Houser, and that the redshirt senior’s knowledge of the game is at a high level.
Thorne has 26 career starts under his belt (16-10 record) and has 861 pass attempts under his belt. Meanwhile, neither Kim nor Houser have started a collegiate game, and the pair have a combined for just 21 pass attempts (Kim - 19, Houser - 2).
"He's at that level of knowing ins and outs of everything that we're doing, from the O-line [and beyond]," Johnson said of Thorne. "That piece is good."
Johnson went on to say that Thorne's focus this spring has been on technique and fundamentals, and went on to praise the redshirt senior's command and poise.
If the redshirt senior is disgruntled about having to compete for the starting job again after two years as the Spartans' signal-caller, Johnson hasn't noticed.
“I’ve been very pleased with Payton," Johnson said. "He’s the most passionate, competitive guy we probably have on the team, but he hasn’t changed and he’s been there.
"Although we’re in that mix, it’s still been an unbelievable, competitive battle and he’s helping those guys out. He’s helping the other players out and I think he’s seeing the dividends of how that’s helping him and continuing to raise his stock. He’s been great. He’s had great, competitive spirit and it’s been good."
As mentioned above, most expect Houser to be Thorne's biggest competition for the starting job. A former four-star recruit, Houser was dubbed "the quarterback of the future" when he signed with Michigan State back in February 2022.
Johnson noted that Houser has been in the offense for a little over a year now and said the redshirt freshman "took a big step" during Michigan State’s team scrimmage back on March 25.
“I think he understands a little bit more," the offensive coordinator said. "Part of it, too, is how you present yourself to the other players. I see a marked change in how he handles the huddle, how he calls the play at the line of scrimmage."
Johnson said the game is slowing down for the young quarterback now that Houser has a better grasp on the offense. The O.C. also noted the freshman's arm talent, and said the rest of his game is starting to catch up to that arm talent.
"If you look at his – I don’t know if I ever want to use ‘comfort level’ in the pocket – but he’s more balanced there," Johnson said. "He’s more under control, and so that just tells me it’s all starting to come together.”
Despite being a true freshman in 2022, Houser was third on the depth chart and did not serve as the team's scout team quarterback in practices. Instead, he was in the QB room with Johnson and his peers, Thorne and Kim.
Johnson said that Houser’s mindset as a true freshman was a good one, with an understanding that Thorne and Kim were already established as the starter and backup and that his first year would be about learning the offense and fine-tuning his craft.
“I did see a huge jump with Katin through the fall, once we got through fall camp [and] about Week 3 or 4," Johnson said. "Things really started to progress positively, and I really think it’s because of his approach...That is lending itself, in my opinion, to him being a little further ahead...To his credit, I just think he had a tremendous approach to what he did in this situation he was put into, and it’s paying dividends for him now.”
As for the often overlooked guy in the competition, Johnson called Kim "very solid" and noted that he brings an added element with his dual-threat ability as a runner. Though, all three of Michigan State's quarterback options are mobile and can be utilized in the run game.
“That’s been good. All three of those guys have had opportunities to do some of that so far in our first seven days of camp, as far as running the football," Johnson said. "That’s a good piece. I think they all have the ability to do it, and they’re showing some good progress there.”
Johnson said that Kim has good timing in the pocket, though he needs to clean up his technique and fundamentals, as well as identifying what he's seeing from the defense.
Whoever ends up as Michigan State starter at quarterback will need more help from the Spartans' run game. One of the reasons why Thorne regressed in 2022 was the fact that MSU did not have a run threat like Kenneth Walker III in the backfield. The Spartans finished 111th out of 131 FBS teams in rushing yards per game a year ago.
“I think anytime, when you’re doing things effectively, it generally helps the other part of it," Johnson said. “So, definitely, when you run the ball effectively it can do a lot of things. It can do a lot of things for the receiver corps, for the O-lineman. It just changes a lot of different perspectives. I’m sure that’s part of it.”
Without that run threat, Thorne said he tried to do too much from the quarterback spot, and that led to an increase in turnovers last season.
“I agree, he did do too many things at times, and he and I have talked extensively about that," Johnson said of Thorne. "That’s why it comes down, again, to the details or your craft and honing in on it.”
Johnson said there is no timetable on when Michigan State plans to decide on a starting quarterback. The coaching staff will take as much time as is necessary to determine the right guy for the job.
“I think that answer will present itself," Johnson said. "We have not put any timeline on it at this point at all. I think that will present itself whenever it does. Will that be at the end of spring? I have no idea. It’s too early to tell.
“A lot of times, you’ve got to get in more of those other environments that we’re trying to create, and we’ve got eight more days to do it. So, maybe we’ll have a better idea [by the end of spring] but I’m uncertain at this point.”
Michigan State fans will get their first 2023 look at the three competitors at quarterback on April 15, when the Spartans host their annual Green and White spring game.
