2019 Football Roster
Roster
Brian Lewerke
- Position:
- QB
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 216
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- High School:
- Pinnacle
CAREER NOTES: Three-year starting quarterback finished his Spartan ranked first in school history in total offense with 9,548 yards (8,293 passing, 1,255 rushing) . . . played in 41 career games, including 38 starts (22-16 record) . . . finished his career ranked third among Spartan QBs in career starts (38) and wins (22) . . . completed 57.7 percent of his passes (721-of-1249) for 8,293 yards, 47 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in his career . . . in addition to setting the all-time Spartan total offense record, also finished his career ranked among MSU’s career leaders in passing attempts (first with 1,249), pass completions (second with 721), passing yards (fourth with 8,293), passing touchdowns (fourth with 47) and passing yards per game (fifth with 202.3 ypg) . . . ranked third among Spartan QBs with 1,255 rushing yards in his career and had 10 rushing TDs . . . only Spartan player to win two bowl MVPs (2017 Holiday, 2019 Pinstripe) . . . one of three Spartan QBs to win two bowl games as the starter (2017 Holiday, 2019 Pinstripe) . . . engineered six fourth-quarter comebacks in his career (2017: Indiana and Penn State; 2018: Utah State and Penn State; 2019: Indiana and Maryland) . . . recorded two of the three highest seasons of total offense in MSU history (record 3,442 yards in 2019; 3,352 yards in 2017 is third) . . . one of only two quarterbacks and six players overall in the Mark Dantonio era to be voted a team captain twice (2018, 2019) . . . only Spartan player in history to record more than 8,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards . . . only Spartan quarterback to pass for 2,500 yards (2,793 yards) and rush for 500 yards (559 yards) in a single season (2017) . . . also had four receptions for 32 yards and one touchdown . . . finished his career with nine 300-yard passing games, third most in MSU history, and 21 200-yard passing games, fourth most among Spartan QBs . . . owns school single-game records for total offense (475 vs. Northwestern in 2017), passing yards (445 vs. Northwestern in 2017) and completions (39 vs. Northwestern in 2017) . . . three-time member of the team’s Eagles leadership council . . . two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree . . . was one of 15 quarterbacks, including teammate Rocky Lombardi, to participate in George Whitfield’s Commander Camp leadership program, spending time with Navy SEALs and U.S. Marines, in San Diego in July 2019, earning the MVP Award . . . was one of six Spartans who shaved his head in April 2019 to help donate money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which benefits childhood cancer research . . . graduated with an economics degree in December 2018 and a second degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science in December 2019.
2019 SEASON (SENIOR): Set a school single-season record for total offense with 3,442 yards (3,079 passing; 363 rushing) . . . completed 59.6 percent of his passes (260-of-436) for 3,079 yards, 17 TDs and 13 interceptions . . . had four 300-yard passing games and nine 200-yard passing games . . . also rushed 111 times for 363 yards (27.9 ypg) . . . ranked among the Big Ten leaders in pass attempts (first with 436), pass completions (first with 260), passing (second with 236.8 ypg) and total offense (second with 264.8 ypg) . . . ranked among the FBS leaders in completions per game (30th with 20.0), total passing yards (32nd with 3,079), total offense (33rd with 264.8 ypg) and passing (40th at 236.8 ypg) . . . received the MSU Downtown Coaches Club Award for most outstanding player on offense . . . named one of 20 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award . . . was MSU’s candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service,” which is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement . . . voted one of four team captains . . . threw for a career-high 3,079 yards, the fifth-highest single-season total in MSU history . . . also ranked among MSU’s single-season leaders in pass attempts (third with 436), pass completions (third with 260) and passing yards per game (sixth with 236.8 ypg) . . . one of three Spartan QBs to throw for at least 2,000 yards in three straight seasons (2,793 in 2017; 2,040 in 2018; 2,759 in 2019) . . . had 42 completions of 20-plus yards, including four TDs . . . named the David C. Koch MVP of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl after completing 26-of-37 passes for 320 yards, one TD and one interception in the 27-21 win over Wake Forest at Yankee Stadium . . . completed a career-long 64-yard pass to Trenton Gillison in the second quarter, setting up MSU’s second TD of the game . . . the 320 passing yards were the fourth-highest by a Spartan in a bowl game . . . collected 366 yards of total offense (320 passing, 46 rushing) to become the school’s all-time leader in total offense, surpassing Connor Cook . . . the 366 yards of total offense were the second most in a Spartan bowl game . . . scored his third rushing TD of the season on an 8-yard run in the second quarter . . . threw a 10-yard TD pass to Cody White in the third quarter that gave MSU the lead for good at 27-21 . . . completed 30-of-41 passes for 342 yards in Maryland game on Senior Day, marking eighth career 300-yard passing game . . . the 342 passing yards marked a season high and the third-best outing of his career, along with the 20th most in school history . . . the 342 yards were also the most ever by a Spartan against Maryland (previous: 240 by Connor Cook in 2014) . . . also had a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter . . . was 21-of-30 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns with one interception at Rutgers . . . was 17-of-30 for 166 yards with one TD at Michigan, connecting with Max Rosenthal, for seventh different Spartan with a TD reception this season . . . finished Illinois game with 347 yards of total offense (251 passing, 96 rushing) . . . ended with a career-high 96 rushing yards on 11 carries, including a 42-yard TD in the second quarter . . . the 42-yard TD run was the second-longest TD run of his career (61 yards vs. Western Michigan in 2017) and third-longest run overall of his career (61 vs. WMU, 52 vs. Notre Dame in 2017) . . . was 19-of-36 passing for 251 yards against the Illini . . . was 16-of-34 for 165 yards and added eight rushes for 22 yards in Penn State game . . . was 7-for-16 for 53 yards with one interception at Wisconsin . . . completed 20-of-38 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception at Ohio State . . . finished Indiana game with 378 total yards of offense (300 passing, 78 rushing), the fourth-highest total of career (475 vs. Northwestern in 2017; 425 vs. Penn State in 2017) and ninth highest in MSU history, completing 18-of-36 passes for 300 yards . . . also led team with 78 rushing yards against the Hoosiers, including a 30-yard scamper down to the IU 1-yard line, setting up MSU’s game-winning field goal with five seconds remaining . . . completed 18-of-31 passes for 228 yards at Northwestern, tying a season-high with three TD passes, including two to Matt Seybert . . . was 24-of-38 for 291 yards in Arizona State game, including a 48-yard pass play to Matt Seybert, while rushing 10 times for 25 yards . . . completed 23-of-32 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns against Western Michigan . . . added 17-yard catch from receiver Darrell Stewart, diving toward end zone before getting knocked out of bounds . . . completed 21-of-37 passes against Tulsa for 192 yards and one touchdown; also rushed seven times for 34 yards, including MSU’s game-high 16-yard scamper on Spartans’ second offensive play, setting up TD on opening possession, earning MSU Offensive Player of the Week team award.
2018 SEASON (JUNIOR): Voted one of three team captains . . . started in 10 games . . . ranked ninth in the Big Ten in passing (185.6 ypg) and 10th in total offense (202.2 ypg) . . . was 184-of-339 (.543) passing for 2,040 yards with eight TDs and 11 INTs . . . rushed for 184 yards and two TDs on 90 carries (2.0 avg.) . . . had a 4-yard TD catch vs. Michigan and had two receptions for 10 yards . . . served as holder in all 13 games (officially does not count as a game played by NCAA if only serving as a holder and no statistics are recorded on the play) . . . totaled 235 yards of total offense in Redbox Bowl vs. Oregon, completing 22-of-40 passes for 172 yards and rushing for a season-high 63 yards on 16 carries, including five for first downs . . . only played in Rutgers game as the team’s holder on special teams, but threw an interception on a bad snap on a field-goal attempt . . . did not play at Nebraska due to an injury; still served as the team’s holder on special teams . . . was 11-of-28 for 128 yards against Ohio State, adding 4 yards rushing . . . returned to starting lineup at Maryland and completed 11-of-20 passes for 87 yards and one interception; also rushed for 45 yards on nine carries, including a 22-yard run . . . had his streak of 20 consecutive starts snapped vs. Purdue due to an injury; still served as the team’s holder on special teams . . . was limited in Michigan game with a shoulder injury, throwing for 66 yards on five completions, and also caught first TD reception of MSU career with a 4-yard catch from Darrell Stewart . . . completed 24-of-52 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns in win at No. 8 Penn State . . . threw two TDs to Felton Davis III at Penn State, including the game-winning 25-yard TD pass with 19 seconds remaining . . . has thrown for 659 yards and four TDs against Penn State the past two seasons . . . totaled 340 yards of total offense against Northwestern, passing for 31-of-51 for a season-high 329 yards with one TD and one INT, while rushing for 11 yards on seven carries . . . the 51 passes tied for ninth most by a Spartan QB in a single game, while the 31 completions tied for seventh most in an MSU single game . . . accounted for 224 total yards in Central Michigan game, tallying 16-of-25 passing for 185 yards and rushing for 39 yards on eight carries . . . recorded second multi-TD rushing game of career, running for scores of 3 yards and 5 yards in the second quarter agains the Chippewas . . . completed 14-of-25 passes for 213 yards, two TDs and two INTs at Indiana . . . also had first career reception on a pass from Cody White in the third quarter . . . also as the team’s holder, ran an option pitch on a fake field goal to placekicker Matt Coghlin, who ran in for a 6-yard TD in the third quarter that put MSU on top, 28-7, and earned MSU Special Units Co-Player of the Week honors . . . in return to home state, was 27-of-39 for 314 yards with one TD and one INT at Arizona State . . . completed 23-of-33 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns in opener against Utah State . . . also had 10 rushes for 31 yards on the ground to total 318 yards of offense.
2017 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Started all 13 games while leading MSU to a 10-3 overall record and a No. 15 ranking in the final Associated Press Poll . . . named honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media . . . Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP . . . Academic All-Big Ten selection . . . named recipient of the MSU Outstanding Underclass Back Award on offense . . . completed 246-of-417 passes (.590) for 2,793 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while rushing for 559 yards on 124 carries (4.5 ypc) . . . had 3,352 yards of total offense, which set a Spartan sophomore single-season record (previous: Connor Cook with 2,831 in 2013), and was No. 2 on MSU’s single-season total offense list at the time . . . also set MSU sophomore records for passing yards (2,793), passing attempts (417) and passing completions (246) . . . ranked among MSU’s single-season leaders at the time in pass completions (No. 3 with 246), pass attempts (No. 4 with 417), passing yards (No. 7 with 2,793) and touchdowns (No. 8 with 20) . . . became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 2,500 yards (2,793) and rush for more than 500 yards (559) in the same season . . . established school single-game records for passing yards (445 vs. Northwestern), completions (39 vs. Northwestern) and total offense (475 yards vs. Northwestern) . . . became the only quarterback in school history to throw for 400 yards in back-to-back games (school-record 445 vs. Northwestern; 400 vs. Penn State) and one of just three in the Big Ten in the last 20 years (Drew Brees, Purdue, 1998; C.J. Bacher, Northwestern, 2007) . . . had the most rushing yards (559) by a Spartan QB since Drew Stanton’s 687 yards rushing in 2004 and became just the fourth MSU QB with 500 rushing yards in a season . . . ranked third in the B1G and 35th in FBS in total offense (257.8 ypg), along with ranking fourth in the conference and 41st in the country in completions per game (18.92), as well as fifth in the B1G and 47th in FBS in passing yards (2,793), fifth in the league and 54th in the nation in passing yards per game (214.8 ypg) and sixth in the conference and 36th in the country in passing TDs (20) . . . also ranked among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in points responsible for (fourth/45th at 152), points responsible for per game (fifth/52nd at 11.7), completion percentage (sixth/61st at .590), as well as among the conference leaders for rushing yards (18th with 559), rushing attempts per game (19th with 9.54) and rushing yards per game (19th with 43.0) . . . had seven games with 200+ yards passing, including two games with 400+ yards . . . second among all B1G QBs for total rushing (559), rushing yards per carry (4.5) and yards per game (43.0), behind Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett (798 yards / 4.8 ypc / 57.0 ypg), but had 43 fewer carries in playing one less game, and also ranked third in rushing TDs (5) behind Barrett (12) and Penn State’s Trace McSorley (11) . . . posted five rushes of 20+ yards, highlighted by 61-yard TD run vs. Western Michigan, which was MSU’s longest offensive play of the season . . . had two rushing TDs of 20+ yards, which tied for the team lead . . . recorded a rushing touchdown and passing touchdown in the same game twice (Western Michigan and Michigan) . . . named the Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after finishing with 286 yards of total offense vs. No. 18 Washington State, posting 13-of-21 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns, and set a Spartan bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (14 carries for 73 yards) . . . also tied a Spartan bowl record with three passing touchdowns against the Cougars . . . was 9-of-10 passing for 162 yards and two TDs in the second quarter alone . . . tallied 53 yards rushing on 12 carries with one TD, while passing for 222 yards on 21-of-31 with one TD at Rutgers . . . rushed for 63 yards on five carries (12.6 ypc), including a 25-yard scamper for a TD against Maryland, which was MSU’s longest offensive play in the snowy, muddy conditions . . . threw for 131 yards on 18-of-36 passing at No. 11 Ohio State . . . had another standout game in leading Spartans to win over No. 7 Penn State, becoming first Spartan quarterback to throw for 400 yards in back-to-back games after throwing for a school-record 445 yards at Northwestern, and for 400 against Penn State . . . the 400 yards tied for the second-most yards by a Spartan QB in a single game (Bill Burke with 400 in win over Michigan in 1999) . . . finished the game 33-of-56 passing . . . completed six passes of 20-plus yards . . . also had 425 yards of total offense, second in school history behind only his 475 at Northwestern . . . was 9-of-14 for 156 yards on third down in the game . . . was also the holder on the game-winning field goal by Matt Coghlin . . . named to PFF Big Ten Team of the Week . . . had banner day at Northwestern, setting school single-game records for passing yards (445), total offense (475) and completions (39) . . . the 57 passing attempts also marked a career high and tied for the second most in school history (record: 61 by Brian Hoyer vs. Penn State in 2006) . . . MSU’s previous single-game records were 400 passing yards (Bill Burke vs. Michigan, 1999), 416 yards of total offense (Connor Cook vs. Indiana, 2015) and 35 completions (Jeff Smoker vs. Ohio State, 2003) . . . also threw a career-high four touchdowns, tied for the second most in school history (accomplished 13 previous times) . . . on MSU’s 12-play, 88-yard game-tying touchdown drive at the end of the fourth quarter, was 10-of-11 for 88 yards on the drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis III . . . finished the game against Indiana 16-of-29 passing for 185 yards and one touchdown, a 10-yard strike to Felton Davis III in the fourth quarter that put MSU on top, 10-9 . . . on the last two drives of the game, both for touchdowns, was 5-of-7 passing for 73 yards, connecting on last five throws in a row, also part of blocking convoy for Davis’ 16-yard run that set up MSU’s second TD of game . . . threw for 120 yards on 9-of-18 passing at Minnesota with one INT, adding 9 yards on four rushes . . . was 11-of-22 passing for 94 yards with one TD in leading MSU to win at No. 7 Michigan, while also leading team with 61 rushing yards on 15 carries . . . had a 14-yard TD scamper in the first quarter, diving into end zone; also dove for a pivotal first down late in fourth quarter . . . recorded his third 200-yard passing game of the season, completing 18-of-28 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa, and also led the Spartans in rushing with 42 yards on the ground, including a 15-yard scramble on a key third-and-12 late in the fourth quarter . . . finished with 254 yards of total offense against the Hawkeyes . . . was 31-of-51 passing for 340 yards and two TDs against Notre Dame while recording 396 yards of total offense . . . ran for a season-high 81 yards vs. Western Michigan, the most by a Spartan quarterback since Drew Stanton had 83 against Purdue in Nov. 4, 2006 . . . scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 61-yard run in the first quarter, the longest TD run by a Spartan quarterback since Charlie Baggett on Oct. 27, 1973, vs. Purdue (69 yards) . . . it tied the longest rush by a Spartan QB since Damon Dowdell also had a 61-yard run against Wisconsin on Nov. 13, 2004 . . . also had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter . . . became the first Spartan QB to record two rushing TDs in a single game since Drew Stanton in 2006 against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 9) . . . finished with 242 yards of total offense, as he was 13-of-21 passing for 161 yards and one touchdown . . . started season opener against Bowling Green and recorded then-career highs in passing yards (250), completions (22), attempts (33), passing touchdowns (3), total offense (319 yards) and longest pass (40) in earning his first career win as a starting quarterback . . . also rushed eight times for 69 yards . . . collected team “Burst of the Week” award vs. BGSU.
2016 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in four games, including two starts (Northwestern, Maryland) . . . completed 31-of-57 passes (.544) for 381 yards and two touchdowns . . . ranked third on team with 149 rushing yards on 21 carries (7.1 avg.) . . . came off the bench vs. No. 2 Michigan and was 6-of-10 passing for 100 yards with a 20-yard TD pass to Monty Madaris, as well as a career-long 34-yard pass, and added a career-long tying 24-yard run before suffering season-ending injury (broken tibia) in fourth quarter . . . made second consecutive start at Maryland and finished 11-of-24 passing for 156 yards and an interception . . . the 24 passing attempts and 156 yards marked season highs . . . also rushed for a season-high 79 yards on 10 carries (7.9 avg.) against the Terrapins . . . made first career start vs. Northwestern, becoming the first Spartan freshman to start at quarterback since Stephen Reaves (Sept. 11, 2004 vs. Central Michigan) . . . completed 12-of-19 passes for 99 yards against the Wildcats and threw his first career TD, hitting Josiah Price for a 15-yard scoring strike; helped MSU set school record for single-game passing yards with 424 . . . his first pass of the game was his longest of the day for 33 yards to R.J. Shelton . . . added team-leading seven rushes for 30 yards, including season-long rush of 24 yards, against the Wildcats . . . made Spartan debut vs. Wisconsin, going 2-of-4 for 26 yards passing with long of 16 yards, adding one rush for 16 yards.
2015 SEASON: Redshirted . . . named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week twice (vs. Western Michigan and Ohio State).
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated among ESPN.com’s Top 300 prospects (No. 270) . . . ranked among the nation’s top quarterbacks by ESPN.com (No. 11 pocket passer), 247Sports.com (No. 19 pro style) and Scout.com (No. 39) . . . listed among the West’s top seniors by ESPN.com (No. 43) . . . also rated among Arizona’s top prospects by ESPN.com (No. 3), 247Sports.com (No. 4) and Scout.com (No. 6) . . . participated in the 2015 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Carson, California . . . compiled a 19-5 record (.792) as a two-year starter for Coach Dana Zupke at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona . . . Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Division 1 all-state selection as a senior . . . named 2014 Division 1 All-Section 5 Player of the Year . . . selected Paradise Valley Unified School District Offensive Player of the Year as a senior . . . accounted for a school-record 3,426 total yards and 46 touchdowns in 2014 . . . completed 144-of-291 throws (.495) for 2,469 yards, 34 TDs and seven interceptions as a senior . . . recorded seven 200-yard passing games as a senior, including six straight during a midseason stretch . . . produced a career-high 438 total yards and four TDs (three passing and one rushing) vs. Highland . . . threw for a season-best 309 yards and five scores vs. Horizon . . . also had five TD passes vs. O’Connor (connected on 17-of-32 throws for 252 yards) . . . set career highs for carries (117), rushing yards (957) and rushing TDs (12) in 2014 . . . posted five 100-yard rushing games as a senior, including 15 attempts for a career-best 178 yards and one score vs. Highland . . . scored a career-high three rushing TDs vs. North Canyon (11 rushes for 100 yards) . . . named 2013 Division 1 All-Section 5 quarterback . . . accounted for 3,244 total yards and 36 TDs as a junior . . . hit 167-of-316 passes (.528) for a career-high 2,780 yards, 33 TDs and nine interceptions in 2013 . . . had nine 200-yard passing games as a junior, including the last five in a row . . . completed 15-of-26 throws for 355 yards and a school-record six TDs vs. Mountain View . . . hit 18-of-32 passes for a school-record 382 yards and five scores vs. Horizon . . . rushed 93 times for 464 yards (5.0 avg.) and three TDs in 2013 . . . set six school single-game and nine single-season passing records . . . holds all Pioneer career passing records . . . produced 7,090 career total yards and 87 TDs (71 passing and 16 rushing) . . . completed 333-of-648 passes (.514) for 5,523 yards, 71 TDs and 17 interceptions . . . recorded 16 career 200-yard passing games, including four 300-yard efforts . . . his career rushing totals include 228 attempts for 1,567 yards (6.9 avg.) and 16 TDs . . . son of David and Angela Lewerke . . . born Oct. 24, 1996.
