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Michigan State may rely on backup QB for kicking duties after injury to punter

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Michigan State head coach announced that punter Jake Hartbarger will miss the next six to eight weeks of the season after suffering a bone bruise and possible fracture in Saturday’s game against Arizona State.

That means the Spartans will rely on freshman place kicker Tyler Hunt or backup quarterback Rocky Lombardi for punting duties. Head coach Mark Dantonio made the statement at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

Hartbarger has played in every game for the Spartans since 2015 and has totaled 186 punts in his career. In 2015, he averaged 42.7 yards per punt, ranking fourth in the B1G.

Last season, Hartbarger posted a 41.9-yard average, tied for seventh-best in the league.

Dantonio did not specify whether Lombardi or Hunt had the lead for the punting duties at the moment, but with Michigan State entering a bye week, there’s plenty of time for both to make their case.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB