MSU football: Analyzing the situation with Jonathan Smith (video)
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari break down the situation with MSU’s Jonathan Smith.
MINNEAPOLIS – Jonathan Smith is making a change at quarterback for Michigan State football.
Redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic will get his first career start as the Spartans try to end a five-game losing streak and a seven-game road slide at Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 1. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. (BTN).
Smith on his pregame radio show said Milivojevic and junior Aidan Chiles split the reps during the week. This is the first time Chiles has not started in Smith’s 20 games over two seasons as MSU’s coach.
“I think all of us know it’s not just the quarterback position,” Smith said, adding he feels Milivojevic “can create a spark”and help the Spartans (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten) produce more points. They are averaging just 15.3 points the past three weeks after a 31-20 loss last Saturday to Michigan.
Chiles, an Oregon State transfer who followed Smith to East Lansing, went 14 of 28 for 130 yards passing and lost a fumble against U-M. In MSU’s first three nonconference games, Chiles completed 71.6% (58-for-81) for 656 yards, six touchdowns and an under-pressure-tipped interception. In the four games since a Sept. 20 loss at USC to open Big Ten play, Chiles has completed 57.4% (58 of 101) of his passes for 524 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Milivojevic has replaced Chiles in each of the past four games and gone 27-for-36 for 281 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in that stretch after his first pass of the season was a pick-6 against Western Michigan. He has played 58 snaps this season and has directed scoring drives in each of his last four appearances.
MSU’s offensive line hasn’t helped, giving up 15 sacks in Big Ten play – Chiles 13 times and Milivojevic twice.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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