EAST LANSING – The Cam Fancher Package. That’s one thing to call it, since Michigan State football offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan has plenty of names for different wrinkles in his game plan that he won’t reveal publicly.
Whatever the nomenclature, Fancher, a sixth-year transfer, flashed his worth and versatility for the Spartans over the first few weeks, including a designed touchdown run in Saturday’s 27-10 loss at No. 3 Notre Dame that showed he is integral in blending with starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic to give MSU a different look to throw off opposing defenses.
“He has a certain skillset, and so we’re trying find those things that we can maximize with not just him but all the players,” Sheridan said of Fancher after practice
Tuesday, Sept. 22. “We’re constantly growing those things, about what the players can do. And he’s done a nice job in the opportunities that he’s had.”
The left-handed Fancher also had a rollout pass against the Irish that running back Kenneth Williams dropped in the end zone that would have been a touchdown. And Sheridan sent the 6-foot, 207-pound former starting quarterback for Marshall, Florida Atlantic and Central Florida flanked out as a wide receiver in one exotic set Saturday, but he dropped a pass from Milivojevic early in the second quarter, one drive before his 15-yard touchdown run.
“It’s right-handed and left-handed quarterback,” wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. said of having both Milivojevic and Fancher alternating at times. “The best thing about it is we get a chance to get all those reps in practice and get catches from both of them all the time. They are both gonna be in and playing, so we just do a good job of getting a connection with both of them so it won’t feel awkward when it’s game time.”
Fancher, FAU's starting quarterback at Spartan Stadium to open the 2024 season, went 6-for-6 for 44 passing yards and had two runs for 8 yards against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 12. He had one run for 3 yards against Toledo in the opener and had another 3-yard run against Notre Dame.
Milivojevic remains the clear starter as MSU (2-1) opens Big Ten play against Nebraska (3-0). Kickoff is 5 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium (BTN). The sophomore has started the Spartans’ past seven games, going 47 of 71 passing for 540 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the first three games this season.
But Milivojevic said he recognizes Fancher adds value to an offense that is looking to find a spark and to keep defenses guessing.
“I don’t know how you would prepare for two quarterbacks,” Milivojevic said. “You never know what’s gonna happen. I think it’s pretty cool to have both of us out there. But I think it’s just whenever coach tells me it’s Cam’s time to go in for a few plays, then I’m ready to get out of there and let him go do his thing.”
Navigating that two-quarterback dynamic could be tricky, but coach Pat Fitzgerald on Monday said it is one that coaches are “clear and concise” with their communication about the delineation of duties for both Milivojevic and Fancher.
“Cam has done a nice job just being a superstar in his role,” Fitzgerald said. “We have great confidence in both quarterbacks. Cam has definitely made some things happen when he’s gone out there, which is encouraging – not only for now but for the entire season. And I think there’s great camaraderie between the two of them. When ‘Less is out there, Cam is his biggest fan and vice versa.”
Fitzgerald has used a similar approach before, with his most success coming alternating passer Trevor Siemien with running option Kain Colter while at Northwestern more than a decade ago. Sheridan also has been part of offenses that used differing styles of quarterbacks similarly to Milivojevic and Fancher.
Some of how Sheridan is using Fancher is scripted, he said, and some of it is based on feel of the game and reading defenses.
“There’s clear communication on our end about what situations or what packages,” Sheridan said. “And depending on the flow of the game and what happens, obviously we can adjust and adapt. And the players understand that.”
Even though Sheridan balked at heavy usage of both Milivojevic and Fancher at the same time – think Kordell Stewart’s “Slash” role with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1990s – Fancher’s teammates feel there may still be some secrets to be revealed. Whatever you want to call it.
“We told [Fancher] he’s gotta work on that catch, but it was pretty cool seeing him out there,” said a chuckling Bullard, who lined up next to the QB at receiver. “We told he was going to have a reception, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown all in one game. So I know that was pretty big for him.”
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The Cam Fancher Package gives Michigan State football dynamic backup QB
