Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck says Broncos are ready for all of MSU’s quarterbacks

KALAMAZOO – Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell was one of the most criticized players in college football last season.

Dec. 29, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Andrew Maxwell (10) fumbles the ball while being sacked by TCU Horned Frogs defensive tackle Davion Pierson (57) and defensive end Stansly Maponga (90) during the second half during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Michigan State beat TCU 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

So, it’s not surprising the Spartans held a four-way battle at his position this fall. On Tuesday, the team released its depth chart, proclaiming all four of its quarterbacks as No. 1.

However, late Tuesday morning, Mark Dantonio cleared the air and publicly named Maxwell the starter for the season opener against visiting Western Michigan on Friday (8 p.m., Big Ten Network).

WMU’s first-year coach P.J. Fleck said it was tough, because he had to prepare for all four of MSU’s quarterbacks.

“You kind of prepare for all of them,” he said. “They all bring something else to the table.”

Maxwell is expected to get the lion’s share of the reps Friday. He played in 13 games and completed 234 passes for 2,606 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

“The good thing is, we have a lot of film on Maxwell,” Fleck noted. “That’s been an advantage. I know Coach Dantonio has mentioned he’s going to play a few quarterbacks. We’ll be ready for it, that’s for sure.”

Fleck and Dantonio both spent time on former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel’s staff.

Fleck was a graduate assistant for the Buckeyes in 2006. Dantonio had three stints in Columbus with the first two stints coming as a G.A. in 1980 and 1983. His last stint was from 2001 to 2003 as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Although the two coaches have never been on the same staff, Fleck admires how great Dantonio is on and off the field.

“I have the upmost respect for (Dantonio),” he said. “We don’t really know each other that well. We’ve been around each other, we’ve talked with each other. I think we’ve been around the same people.

“One thing about that guy, I’ve never heard one bad thing about him. That’s very hard to find in this profession. The fast-paced life that we’re at, dealing with the young people, the way society is, it’s all crazy. I’ve never heard anyone say one thing bad about the guy. Anytime I’ve asked him for anything, even before I became a head coach, he was always open, he was always inviting to us and me, and I just truly respect him.”

Another person Fleck and his WMU team respects is MSU’s redshirt freshman running back Riley Bullough – a 6-foot-2, 230-pound former linebacker who is No. 2 on the depth chart.

Bullough (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) has rich bloodlines at Michigan State, and his brother, Max, is the starting middle linebacker for the Spartans.

The Broncos will have a tough time stopping Riley between the tackles Friday.

“He’s a load, isn’t he,” Fleck acknowledged. “If he’s anything like his brother, we got our work cut out for us, that’s for sure.

“That Bullough family has such a tradition there. From their dad to their grandfather, I think it just keeps going down the line. That’s not going to stop with the running back.”

WMU returns strong-side linebacker Johnnie Simon, who had 103 tackles last season, and will start former Michigan linebacker Mike Jones on the weak side.

Both will have a long night chasing down MSU’s tailbacks.

“We’ve got to do a great job of tackling,” Fleck said. “We got to do a good job of fitting. They’re going to run power, they’re going to run inside zone. They’re going to run power, so we got to do a great job of fitting it.”