Mel Tucker, Michigan State won't name starting QB ahead of Central Michigan
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker was asked in various forms about the Spartans' open competition at starting quarterback, but Tucker would not tip his hand in any form or fashon ahead of the season-opener against Central Michigan on Friday.
"We'll see who runs out there first on Friday night and we'll go from there," Tucker told reporters at his weekly press conference on Monday. "We'll just have to find out on Friday."
Redshirt junior Noah Kim and redshirt freshman Katin Houser have been locked in a two-man battle for the starting job since April 30, when incumbent starter Payton Thorne entered the transfer portal. Thorne ultimately ended up in the SEC at Auburn, and earned the Tigers' starting job heading into 2023.
While several programs across the country have announced their starters at quarterback ahead of season-openers — programs such as Georgia, UCLA, Arizona State, Florida and others — Tucker falls into the camp of coaches who refuse to announce a starter prior to his first team offense taking the field in Week 1. Other notable programs who have not yet named a starter include Alabama and Ohio State.
While Tucker was adamant that he would not name a starter ahead of the Central Michigan game, he was asked what he liked about each quarterback and what the strengths were for Kim and Houser. Michigan State's head coach, however, would not take the bait.
"I really try to avoid the comparisons, because I don't think it's really fair," Tucker said. "The guys are unique and they're both really good players and we like them both. I just don't think it's good to make comparisons, especially right now."
Keeping Michigan State's starting quarterback under wraps is nothing new for Tucker. Ahead of the 2021 season, in which Thorne battled Temple graduate transfer Anthony Russo, the Spartans did not reveal the starter until the first team offense took the field against Northwestern in that season's opener.
Kim enters the 2023 season with 38 snaps taken in his collegiate career, all of which came last season in a backup role to Thorne. The redshirt junior has completed 14-of-19 pass attempts for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Kim saw action against Western Michigan, Akron, Minnesota and Ohio State in 2022.
Against the Buckeyes, Kim went 6-for-10 with 82 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown to wide receiver Montorie Foster. The junior went 6-of-7 passing against Minnesota for 70 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown to freshman receiver Germie Bernard, who transferred to Washington this offseason. Kim was also 2-for-2 for 22 yards against Akron in Week 2, throwing his first career touchdown pass to wide receiver Tre Mosley against the Zips.
Houser, meanwhile, was only on the field for six snaps — all against Akron — during his true freshman season a year ago. He attempted two passes with one completion for two yards. Houser also carried the ball once for 13 yards and a first down.
For more coverage of Michigan State Athletics:
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @SpartanNationPodcast
- Follow us on Twitter: @mlounsberry_SI | @a3danm
