Michigan State to start Katin Houser at QB vs. Rutgers

Michigan State will start quarterback Katin Houser against Rutgers Saturday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Houser steps in for his first career start in place of Noah Kim. The Spartans are 2-3 on the season going into Piscataway.

In what could be a make or break game for the season, Houser gets his shot.

“Source: Katin Houser will make his first career start for Michigan State at Rutgers on Saturday,” Thamel wrote on Twitter. “He’s completed 9-of-16 passes in relief in four games this year. Michigan State is No. 96 in total offense and No. 90 in scoring offense.”

As a member of the Class of 2022, Houser was a four-star recruit out of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 16 overall prospect in the state, the No. 13 quarterback in the class and the No. 210 overall prospect in the class.

Houser goes instead of Kim, who in five games this year went 91-of-160 passing (56.9%) for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Interim head coach Harlon Barnett recently downplayed any locker room concerns amid the initial quarterback uncertainty.

“The guys? They just know that they want to win. They want to win. And they know that we’re going to give them the best opportunity to with, with quarterback or any other position for that matter,” said Barnett. “They’re all teammates and they all root for one another. They all know the best players play and we’re all competing every day for our jobs. So I don’t think there’s a split in the locker room or anything like that. Guys just want to win football games.”

“That’s really all it boils down to and it doesn’t just boil down to the quarterback either. It’s all positions,” Barnett explained. “Like I was talking earlier, we showed where everybody could have done something better, made plays, and did things. So it’s not just the quarterback.”

In East Lansing, Barnett is simply going to let the best men, or, in this case, man, win. The players understand that fully which is why he continued to downplay any concerns that the quarterback question might be generating within their building.

“They understand that and the quarterback is no different – the best players play,” said Barnett. “That’s how we’re going to do it.”