Camp Update Continued:
SOLID START FOR QBS
Rocky Lombardi is expected to win the back-up QB job, but Theo Day could see mop-up action, too, while preserving a redshirt.
With veterans fortifying every level of the offense (and defense for that matter), Spartan quarterbacks apparently navigated things with sharpness last week as the practice season began, including redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi and true freshman Theo Day.
“They seem a lot more calm, know what they’re doing,” Sokol said.
Lombardi (6-3, 218, Clive, Iowa) is entering is second season in the program. Day (6-5, 222, Canton, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child) enrolled in January and participated in spring drills.
“They both throw the ball really well,” Sokol said. “All of our quarterbacks are very cool, calm guys. Brian (Lewerke) never gets too worked up. All of those guys are smart dudes. It’s awesome to see those guys compete and make each other better. We have a really good quarterback room right now.”
WHAT ABOUT LEWERKE?
The junior quarterback will be a favorite interview target during MSU’s Media Day, Monday, at Spartan Stadium, and for good reason. Brian Lewerke (6-3, 215, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) threw for 2,793 yards last year with 20 TDs and seven interceptions in providing X-factor excellence in last year’s surprise 10-3 season.
Now he’s simply one of the top returning QBs in the country.
“Expectatons are probably high,” Lewerke said. “They are high from myself, too. I want to perform to the best of my ability for my team. I want to make sure I move this team in the right direction.”
He’s not afraid to mention statistical goals.
“Throwing for 3,000 yards would be great,” he said. “More touchdowns than I had last year, in the 25 range, would be great.”
How does he get there?
“The kind of thing I’ve been focusing on is accuracy,” Lewerke said. “That was one of my downsides last year. I only had 59 percent completion (percentage). I’m trying to get mid-60s, 65 range. That will make us a more efficient football team, more efficient offense, score more points.”
He is focusing on mechanics in order to become more consistently accurate.
“Footwork is a big part of that,” Lewerke said. “Sometimes I threw off-balance (last year). That might have been why the ball is accurate. I’ve been working on making sure my feet are grounded when I throw, make sure I bring the back foot through, making sure my arm angle is right when I throw, being comfortable in the pocket, not letting the pressure get to you if it’s coming and just throw a good ball.”
ONE TO WATCH
Put true sophomore Matt Dotson on the breakout watch list for 2018. He will see reps behind Sokol as a seam-threatening tight end.
Dotson (6-5, 249, Soph., Kenwood, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) has been steadily adding good weight to his fast, four-star frame.
“Dotson is going to be a very good player here,” Sokol said. “I’m excited for him and all the progress he’s made. We all have things to learn and get better at, but he has really made a lot of progress, especially mentally. He’s just a good player. He’s got good hands, he runs good routes, quick guy. I’m excited for him.”
Dotson saw action in 10 games last year, and started against Rutgers. He had two catches on the year for 19 yards.
Dotson was ranked the No. 168 player in the nation by Rivals.com in 2017.
A BARBER SHOP?
Mark Dantonio has been raving about this team’s chemistry and leadership. Willis likes it too.
“The locker room for us is kind of like a barber shop in a community,” Willis said. “We’ll come and spend two hours talking about Lebron James.
“The good things, we laugh about. The bad things, we discuss and give our opinion about. It’s a comfortable place where we go and discuss how we feel about things and we keep it there.”
THE HAIR CHALLENGE
Kenny Willekes showed up with a shaved dome for August camp. He’s had some striking haircuts in the past. He challenged Willis to go with a mohawk for the new season, but so far Willis hasn’t obliged.
But Willis is still considering it.
“I love Kenny,” Willis said. “He’s a great competitor, an extremely hard worker and he’s crazy.”
What about Willekes’ hair?
“I have a sense it will be back,” Willis said.
Willekes’ motor never left. His relentless style, pitted with good speed, quickness, handy work and strength, helped him earn third-team All-Big Ten honors at defensive end last year.
Michigan State is deep in most areas, but thin at d-end. That makes Willekes one of the most valuable players on the team.
“Kenny came into his own last year and I was happy for him,” Willis said. “He has always been an extremely hard worker, going back to when he was in high school and I wanted to play against him, then and the team we lost to beat his team by 28. I still rub that in with him.”
Willis’ Jackson Lumen Christi Team lost to eventual state champion Monroe St. Mary’s, 27-26, in the Division 6 Regional Final. A week later, Monroe St. Mary’s routed Willekes’ Grand Rapids NorthPoint Christian team, 28-0, in the state semifinals.
“Kenny was a middle linebacker,” Willis said. “But he wouldn’t have got me.”
SOLID START FOR QBS
Rocky Lombardi is expected to win the back-up QB job, but Theo Day could see mop-up action, too, while preserving a redshirt.
With veterans fortifying every level of the offense (and defense for that matter), Spartan quarterbacks apparently navigated things with sharpness last week as the practice season began, including redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi and true freshman Theo Day.
“They seem a lot more calm, know what they’re doing,” Sokol said.
Lombardi (6-3, 218, Clive, Iowa) is entering is second season in the program. Day (6-5, 222, Canton, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child) enrolled in January and participated in spring drills.
“They both throw the ball really well,” Sokol said. “All of our quarterbacks are very cool, calm guys. Brian (Lewerke) never gets too worked up. All of those guys are smart dudes. It’s awesome to see those guys compete and make each other better. We have a really good quarterback room right now.”
WHAT ABOUT LEWERKE?
The junior quarterback will be a favorite interview target during MSU’s Media Day, Monday, at Spartan Stadium, and for good reason. Brian Lewerke (6-3, 215, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) threw for 2,793 yards last year with 20 TDs and seven interceptions in providing X-factor excellence in last year’s surprise 10-3 season.
Now he’s simply one of the top returning QBs in the country.
“Expectatons are probably high,” Lewerke said. “They are high from myself, too. I want to perform to the best of my ability for my team. I want to make sure I move this team in the right direction.”
He’s not afraid to mention statistical goals.
“Throwing for 3,000 yards would be great,” he said. “More touchdowns than I had last year, in the 25 range, would be great.”
How does he get there?
“The kind of thing I’ve been focusing on is accuracy,” Lewerke said. “That was one of my downsides last year. I only had 59 percent completion (percentage). I’m trying to get mid-60s, 65 range. That will make us a more efficient football team, more efficient offense, score more points.”
He is focusing on mechanics in order to become more consistently accurate.
“Footwork is a big part of that,” Lewerke said. “Sometimes I threw off-balance (last year). That might have been why the ball is accurate. I’ve been working on making sure my feet are grounded when I throw, make sure I bring the back foot through, making sure my arm angle is right when I throw, being comfortable in the pocket, not letting the pressure get to you if it’s coming and just throw a good ball.”
ONE TO WATCH
Put true sophomore Matt Dotson on the breakout watch list for 2018. He will see reps behind Sokol as a seam-threatening tight end.
Dotson (6-5, 249, Soph., Kenwood, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) has been steadily adding good weight to his fast, four-star frame.
“Dotson is going to be a very good player here,” Sokol said. “I’m excited for him and all the progress he’s made. We all have things to learn and get better at, but he has really made a lot of progress, especially mentally. He’s just a good player. He’s got good hands, he runs good routes, quick guy. I’m excited for him.”
Dotson saw action in 10 games last year, and started against Rutgers. He had two catches on the year for 19 yards.
Dotson was ranked the No. 168 player in the nation by Rivals.com in 2017.
A BARBER SHOP?
Mark Dantonio has been raving about this team’s chemistry and leadership. Willis likes it too.
“The locker room for us is kind of like a barber shop in a community,” Willis said. “We’ll come and spend two hours talking about Lebron James.
“The good things, we laugh about. The bad things, we discuss and give our opinion about. It’s a comfortable place where we go and discuss how we feel about things and we keep it there.”
THE HAIR CHALLENGE
Kenny Willekes showed up with a shaved dome for August camp. He’s had some striking haircuts in the past. He challenged Willis to go with a mohawk for the new season, but so far Willis hasn’t obliged.
But Willis is still considering it.
“I love Kenny,” Willis said. “He’s a great competitor, an extremely hard worker and he’s crazy.”
What about Willekes’ hair?
“I have a sense it will be back,” Willis said.
Willekes’ motor never left. His relentless style, pitted with good speed, quickness, handy work and strength, helped him earn third-team All-Big Ten honors at defensive end last year.
Michigan State is deep in most areas, but thin at d-end. That makes Willekes one of the most valuable players on the team.
“Kenny came into his own last year and I was happy for him,” Willis said. “He has always been an extremely hard worker, going back to when he was in high school and I wanted to play against him, then and the team we lost to beat his team by 28. I still rub that in with him.”
Willis’ Jackson Lumen Christi Team lost to eventual state champion Monroe St. Mary’s, 27-26, in the Division 6 Regional Final. A week later, Monroe St. Mary’s routed Willekes’ Grand Rapids NorthPoint Christian team, 28-0, in the state semifinals.
“Kenny was a middle linebacker,” Willis said. “But he wouldn’t have got me.”
