Michigan State has released their depth chart for this Saturday’s game against Rutgers. The game will be played at 4 pm in Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State football depth chart Rutgers week pic.twitter.com/nRQ2e2SM28
— Hondo Carpenter (@HondoCarpenter) November 20, 2018
As you can see in the tweet above, we still don’t know if Brian Lewerke or Rocky Lombardi will be getting the start under center for the Spartans. Lombardi got the start last week against Nebraska where he struggled, completing just 15 of his 41 passing attempts for 146 yards and an interception. He also ran the ball nine times for 53 yards. Lewerke missed last game with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will be available Saturday against Rutgers.
Lewerke has the better season stats having thrown for 1,868 yards with a 54.5% completion percentage, eight touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 109.8 quarterback rating. Lombardi has thrown for 565 yards with a 44.1% completion percentage, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and an 89.2 quarterback rating.
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Redshirt Freshman running back Weston Bridges is listed on the depth chart despite being questions for Saturday’s game. Bridges missed last week’s game battling an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he’ll take the field against Rutgers. A year removed from his second torn ACL and with a crowded backfield at Michigan State, Bridges hasn’t seen a lot of action this season. He has carried the ball 16 times for 53 yards.
With Senior running back LJ Scott out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury he suffered during the Maryland game, the workload will fall to a trio of young backs including Sophomore Connor Heyward, Freshman La’ Darius Jefferson, and Bridges. Heyward should continue to see most of the handoffs as he leads the team with 95 carries, 439 rushing yards, and 5 touchdowns.
Freshman wide receiver Jalen Nailor is also listed as questionable for the game despite being listed in the depth chart. Like Lewerke and Bridges, Nailor missed last week’s game against Nebraska with an undisclosed injury and it’s unknown if he will suit up for the Spartans. Given all of the injuries that have plagued the Spartan receiving corps throughout the season, Nailer has seen some decent action this year. He has hauled in seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns, including a 48-yard touchdown “pass” from Rocky Lombardi against Purdue.
Nailor’s most exciting play of the season was a 75-yard touchdown run during Michigan State’s win against Indiana. He has eight carries for 125 yards and a touchdown total this season.
