New QBs Brian Lewerke, Brandon Wimbush bring running threats to Michigan State, Notre Dame

EAST LANSING - The rooming assignments for the 2014 Elite 11 camp placed Arizona native Brian Lewerke in the same room as Brandon Wimbush from New Jersey during the three-day event for the country's top high school quarterbacks.

The two hit it off, and have stayed in touch since, talking occasionally and following one another's careers.

Now, Lewerke and Wimbush will meet on the field for the first time, as they both give a new look to one of the Midwest's most history-laden college football rivalries.

Michigan State and Notre Dame meet on Saturday (8 p.m., FOX), with both of their quarterbacks having had strong starts to the year, particularly in the running department.

Wimbush is fourth in the country among quarterbacks at 104.7 rushing yards per game for Notre Dame. That includes a 207-yard, four-touchdown rushing day against Boston College on Saturday, when Wimbush consistently turned broken plays into big gains with his feet.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio called Wimbush a "dynamic athlete."

"You saw what he could do this last week, a lot of plays broke down and he created even a shovel pass," Dantonio said. "The shovel pass hung up and he runs for 70 yards."

Lewerke has also had a strong start with his feet, leading Michigan State in rushing at 75 yards per game through the Spartans' 2-0 start.

That tally has the attention of Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.

"I've been very impressed with Lewerke," Kelly said during his Tuesday press conference. "Very poised, can run, you know, if you fall asleep in zone option he's going to pull it and he's capable of running out. Had a nice long run against Western Michigan."

The emergence of the duo as significant running threats, in both of their first full seasons as starters, raises the question of how to defend them.

Kelly said that Boston College had a defender specifically assigned to Wimbush, but that the player often misplayed the Irish quarterback and allowed him to get big gains.

He went on to say that Notre Dame will likely use a similar strategy for Lewerke.

"You have to have somebody that has him and is accounted for," Kelly said. "If you don't, he'll hurt you."

Lewerke, for his part, has said he would welcome teams using a player to "spy" him in the run game, noting it would take that player out of pass coverage and potentially open him up downfield.

For all the success the two quarterbacks have had running the football, Kelly said both are going to have to start throwing more to take their teams to the next level.

"Certainly they're going to have to complete some passes to win games, to win a Big Ten championship," Kelly said. "And for us, the same way, for us to get to the playoff, we're going to have to complete more passes as well."

Lewerke, for his part, doesn't disagree. While he's been happy, he knows Saturday's game could come down to whether he or his former roommate can start throwing the ball together.

"I agree with what he said there," Lewerke said. "I think whatever quarterback is able to start beating the defense with his arm a little more I think is going to be very important. I feel like I've done a decent job of getting up there, and now it's time to get it all together."

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