Harlon Barnett reveals Michigan State will evaluate QB position during bye week

Michigan State acting head coach Harlon Barnett might have a decision to make during the team’s upcoming bye week about the quarterback position. Current starter Noah Kim has struggled throughout the season, and put up another forgettable performance Saturday versus Iowa.

Kim completed 25 of 44 passes for just 193 yards with three interceptions. He has six interceptions and just six touchdowns on the season.

Barnett was asked after the game about how will he evaluate the performance and whether he might consider making a change. He said he, offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and the offensive staff would have a discussion about it before making any changes.

“We have to watch the film very closely,” Barnett said. “We got two weeks —that’s a good thing…We’ll all talk it through and see if there’s something that needs to be done or not and evaluate it. Being very, very realistic in (the) evaluation and then being very fair at the same time. Like with all of our guys, everybody’s always being evaluated and there’s always competition going on. It’s no different from any other position.”

The backup quarterbacks for the Spartans are redshirt freshman Katin Houser and freshman Sam Leavitt. Houser has played in four games this season, completing nine of his 16 passes for 158 yards with an interception. Leavitt, who is a true freshman from Portland (Ore.) West Linn, has only played against Maryland, completing two passes.

Both players were four-star recruits coming out of high school. Leavitt was the No. 381 overall recruit and No. 24 quarterback in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

However, On3 rated him higher than the industry. Leavitt was the No. 76 player and No. 7 quarterback in the 2023 On300 ranking.

That Maryland game saw Kim relieved in the fourth quarter as the team lost 31-9. Despite being pulled, Barnett had been much more declarative in his support for Kim after the loss to the Terrapins than the loss to the Hawkeyes.

“We’re going to stick with how we have it right now with Noah being our quarterback,” Barnett said. “The glaring thing is the interceptions but he put some balls on the money where guys have got to make those plays. I like the nice run. I like him running a little bit, personally. That’s just me because he’s fast. So, he can put pressure on a defense running the football.”