Tag: Rocky Lombardi

Former Michigan State football QB Rocky Lombardi signs with the Cincinnati Bengals as UDFA

Former Michigan State QB Rocky Lombardi signs with the Cincinnati Bengals as UDFA

Rocky Lombardi will always be a hero to Michigan State football fans for his heroics against Michigan when he was the Spartans’ starting quarterback. Now, after spending a few season with Northern Illinois, Rocky will get his shot at the next level, signing a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent (UDFA).

Michigan State actually may have helped give Rocky an extra boost to get to this point, although he more than deserved the opportunity. The Spartans had Lombardi on campus to throw passes on their pro day.

Rocky will join former teammates Michael Dowell and Joe Bachie as undrafted members of the Bengals.

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LOOK: QB Rocky Lombardi throwing passes at Michigan State football Pro Day

LOOK: QB Rocky Lombardi throwing passes at Michigan State football Pro Day

I’m sure we will hear the full story on how this happened, but on the surface, there was a very classy move at Wednesday’s Michigan State football Pro Day, as the Spartans’ new coaching staff invited former MSU quarterback Rocky Lombardi to throw passes.

Whether this was just out of necessity because MSU’s other three quarterbacks from this past season all transferred out, or because the staff wanted to give Rocky his opportunity to shine for scouts, we will probably find out soon, but at least for now, this looked like a really classy gesture.

And here he is weighing in:

You can see every player who participated in the Michigan State Pro Day here.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Perfect late-round, undrafted free-agent QB fits for the Eagles in 2023 NFL draft

We’re looking at the perfect late-round, undrafted free-agent quarterback fit for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Eagles’ 2023 NFL offseason is in full swing, and as Howie Roseman retools a roster that’ll look entirely different on defense, we’re looking at a potential backup quarterback.

After two years of uncertainty, Jalen Hurts is the man in Philadelphia and the NFC after leading the franchise to its second Super Bowl appearance in the past five years.

An All-Pro and MVP Runner up, Hurts reset the market after agreeing to a five-year, $255 million contract extension.

Still, Philadelphia is in the business of developing quarterbacks, and with Marcus Mariota aging, Howie Roseman could look to add a young signal-caller to groom under Hurts.

With the first wave of NFL free agency now complete, and the draft just one week away, we’re looking at the potential late-round, undrafted free agent fits at quarterback.

Northern Illinois’ Trayvon Rudolph has 309 receiving yards in wild loss to Kent State

Kent State and Northern Illinois combined for more than 1,300 yards in the Golden Flashes’ MAC victory

There was some wild, wild MACtion on Wednesday night.

Northern Illinois saw its undefeated mark in the conference erased after 5 victories in a 52-47 defeat at Kent State. The schools combined for 1,345 yards of total offense.

Northern Illinois receiver Trayvon Rudolph had 14 receptions for 309 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rudolph, a freshman, came into the game with 18 catches for 330 yards.

The Huskies lost their top receiver, Tyrice Richie, to injury early in the game.

The receiving yards by Rudolph — a school record — made up most of the 532 passing yards Michigan State transfer Rocky Lombardi threw for before having to exit the game in the fourth quarter after being hit on a targeting penalty by a Golden Flashes defender.

Lombardi was 33-of-57 with the trio of TDs to Rudolph. Jay Ducker rushed for 101 yards and 2 TDs for the Huskies

Kent State QB Dustin Crum was 20-of-30 for 322 yards and 2 TDs.

The Golden Flashes had a pair of running backs go over 100 yards and one receiver break the century mark.

WATCH: Former MSU QB Rocky Lombardi leads Northern Illinois to upset win over Georgia Tech

Rocky Lombardi led the Spartans to a pair of big upsets last season, and he did it again on Saturday — this time for his new squad.

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Rocky Lombardi led the Spartans to a pair of big upsets last season, and he did it again on Saturday — this time for his new squad.

The former Michigan State quarterback is now leading the Northern Illinois Huskies after transferring away from the Spartans in the offeseason. Saturday night was his first start for the MAC school and he was very impressive in leading the Huskies to a 22-21 victory over ACC foe Georgia Tech.

Lombardi completed 11-of-17 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in his Saturday Huskies’ debut. Those numbers aren’t spectacular but what is was the game-winning drive he led in the final two minutes of the game. That drive ended with one of his touchdown passes and a two-point conversion to complete the upset bid.

Check out the winning play from Lombardi on the two-point conversion that put the Huskies ahead in the final minute of the game:

Northern Illinois was roughly a three-touchdown underdog in this match-up.

It’s great to see Lombardi getting an opportunity to play and have success at another school this year. Hopefully, Lombardi can keep it up in the coming weeks when the Huskies head to the Big House to battle Michigan.

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A look at the Big Ten passing leaders in 2020

Despite the relative inexperience, injuries and struggles with COVID-19 during the season, QB Graham Mertz finished in the top 10 in the …

Just one year removed from losing running back Jonathan Taylor to the NFL draft, Wisconsin’s offense showed some growing pains last season starting a true freshman running back in Jalen Berger and redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz for the majority of the season.

Despite the relative inexperience, injuries and struggles with COVID-19 during the season, QB Graham Mertz finished in the top 10 in the Big Ten Conference last season in passing yards per game. His numbers will likely improve in the 2021 season with an offseason to recover from his shoulder injury sustained against Michigan. The offense will also be returning wide receiver Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor healthy, as well as tight end Jake Ferguson.

Below is the ranking of the top 10 players in passing yards per game from the Big Ten Conference 2020 season. Players from Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Iowa, Rutgers and Minnesota all made the ranking.

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LOOK: Rocky Lombardi says good-bye to Spartan Nation

Rocky Lombardi has entered his name into the transfer portal and he went on Twitter to say good-bye to the Michigan State fanbase.

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Rocky Lombardi was a member of Michigan State’s 2017 recruiting class, coming in as a 4-star quarterback. He has spent the last four seasons as a member of Michigan State’s football program.

Lombardi was a back-up for quarterback Brian Lewerke, coming in relief several times and starting three games in 2018. Rocky had won the starting job this season, leading the Spartans to two huge wins, beating Michigan and top ten ranked Northwestern.

With the ascension of Payton Thorne and the addition of Anthony Russo via the transfer portal, Rocky has made the decision to enter his name in the transfer portal. He took to Twitter to say good-bye to Spartan Nation:

As Rocky said, he will be a lifelong Spartan, and the Spartan Nation should embrace him and thank him for some of the great memories he provided. Rocky embraced what being a Spartan is all about.

Spartans all over will be cheering for Rocky when he finds his new home for next fall.

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MSU Football Transfer Tracker: Every incoming and outgoing transfer

So far 12 Spartans have entered the NCAA transfer portal. The Spartans have also gotten three players from the transfer portal so far.

Mel Tucker promised to overhaul the MSU roster through multiple channels, and we have seen that in spades this month as the transfers are starting to pile up for Michigan State football.

The portal has been both an avenue for MSU to find new players and for some of their players who are no longer a fit under Tucker’s new vision to find new homes. At this time, 13 Spartans have entered the NCAA transfer portal to seek new schools. Conversely, the Spartans have also received three players, all likely starters, from the transfer portal.

Let’s review who is leaving and coming to Michigan State:

MSU Football QB Rocky Lombardi, LB Jeslord Boateng enter transfer portal

Two more Michigan State players entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon. That brings the total of transfers this year up to nine.

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The transfer portal giveth and the transfer portal taketh away. Michigan State landed a new starting running back and possibly a new starting quarterback this week from the portal, and also lost two players early on Friday in similar fashion. Later on Friday, two more Spartans entered the transfer portal: quarterback Rocky Lombardi and linebacker Jeslord Boateng.

The news on Lombardi was first reported by Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press while Boateng’s transfer was reported by Rainer Sabin, also of the Free Press.

This is certainly major news regarding Lombardi, but not at all shocking. After showing some flashes, Lombardi was never able to find enough consistency on the field to take control of the starting job. With the emergence of Payton Thorne and the addition of Anthony Russo from Temple, along with recruit Hampton Fay coming to town, Lombardi started to find himself near the bottom of a crowded QB depth chart.

Boateng, a former 3-star recruit in the 2018 recruiting class, was only really able to find the field on special teams this year. He and Lombardi are the eighth and ninth MSU players to transfer this fall. Tucker has not shied away from the fact that if you aren’t a great fit for his program, you are free to see yourself out, and that seems how things have played out.

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Payton Thorne to make first career start vs. Penn State

Redshirt freshman Payton Thorne has gotten the nod to start at quarterback vs. Penn State. This marks the first career start for Thorne.

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Redshirt freshman Payton Thorne has gotten the nod to start at quarterback vs. Penn State. This marks the first career start for Thorne.

Redshirt junior Rocky Lombardi was knocked out of the game last week vs. Ohio State with an apparent head injury. Earlier in the week, head coach Mel Tucker said Lombardi had been progressing but wasn’t sure if he would be able to play or not.

Thorne has played in three games this season, completing 26-of-46 passing attempts for 257 yards and two interceptions. He also has 67 rushing yards and one touchdown on 17 carries.

Stay with Spartans Wire for more updates on today’s game vs. Penn State