Anyone hoping for clarity on Michigan State’s quarterback situation by the end of spring shouldn’t hold their breath. Mel Tucker isn’t in a rush to name a starter just yet.

Speaking with reporters this week, Tucker was asked about the ongoing battle for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Right now, the favorites to land the job are Payton Thorne and Temple transfer Anthony Russo.

When asked about when he expects to make a decision on a starter, Tucker said that it will be a little while.

“That happens more in preseason camp,” Tucker said, per MLive.com. “It’s really too early to tell. We have some indications of where it is but we’ve got a long way to go.”

Michigan State will be ushering in a new full-time starter this year after Rocky Lombardi transferred at the end of the 2020 season. Lombardi started in six games for the Spartans but wasn’t the long-term solution in East Lansing.

Thorne appeared in four games during the 2020 season and totaled 325 passing yards with 3 touchdowns and made his only start against Penn State.

People may want to know what the situation is like heading into fall camp, but Tucker understands that there’s no hurry to tab anyone the starter just yet. He says that after the first scrimmage in fall, there will probably be a better idea of who will start the season under center.

“We’ve got the rest of spring, we have an entire summer program and then we’re going to have 25 practices in 29 days [in fall camp], unless they change the rules,” Tucker said. “By the time that first scrimmage shakes out in fall camp, we’ll pretty much have a good idea of where we need to be at that position and the other positions.”