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Mel Tucker details QB room following spring game, hints at potential 2-man race for QB1
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Mel Tucker spoke with media following Michigan State’s “spring game” Saturday afternoon. Of course, the Spartans chose not to do a traditional “Green and White” game this season and instead held an open practice to wrap up spring practices.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Tucker’s postgame conference was the indication that MSU’s starting QB battle appears to be down to 2: Noah Kim and Payton Thorne, who started for the Spartans most of last season.
Tucker said the performances Saturday from Kim and Thorne are indicative of what they’ve seen throughout spring practice. This is significant because 4-star Class of 2022 Katin Houser, who may be the most talented of the 3 QBs, only took 5 snaps Saturday.
Mel Tucker says today’s QB performances were indicative of what they’ve seen throughout the spring, which means MSU is probably looking at a two-man battle for the starting QB nod, Payton Thorne and Noah Kim.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) April 15, 2023
Those who watched would agree: Houser struggled more than his talent would suggest Saturday while Kim and Thorne both made promising throws and just looked more comfortable with the ball in their hands.
Kim was likely the most impressive of the 3, connecting on a few tough throws. The most impressive of the day was a 35-yard touchdown to Antonio Gates Jr. during 2-minute drills.
Tucker has not outright said Houser is out of the race, but with the evidence in front of us, it seems like the redshirt freshman would have some work to do.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.