During the early 2010s and late 00s, Michigan State was one of those teams that just seemed to put everything together, topping it all off with a star quarterback to serve as a leader, motivator and example for the program.

You know the names: Kirk Cousins, Connor Cook and Brian Lewerke. Cousins laid the foundation, Cook extended the vision and Lewerke, at times, really measured up to his predecessors’ high standards and wins.

Cotton Bowl. Rose Bowl. B1G Championship. Wins over Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame — just to name a few.

Each one of them can lay claim to some type of fame in East Lansing. Legendary QBs in their own right. Faces of the program, especially Cousins and Cook.

Payton Thorne is off to a nice start with the No. 17 Spartans, who are fresh off a 23-20 OT thriller vs. Nebraska. Physically, he appears to have the necessary tools to mature into a pretty solid QB. Now, “pretty solid” and “star” are two different things. Michigan State is used to star QBs who make memorable plays against top-level competition.

Last year, Thorne threw for 325 yards, 3 TDs and a pick during a season-ending loss to Penn State — so he’s already achieving what players such as Cousins and Cook had done, statistically anyway, during their time at MSU by reaching the 300-yard mark. He hit 280 yards this season in a win over Youngstown State, to go with his 4 touchdown throws.

He threw for 260 and 4 TDs vs. Miami.

He’s thrown just 1 pick this season and helped lead MSU to 2 Big Ten wins and a big non-con road victory.  And, of course, he learned how to slip out of a potentially adverse situation this past weekend vs. Nebraska.

He had help, but Thorne kept competing and striving for a win.

Cousins, Cook, Lewerke — they all started somewhere.

Right now, Thorne is a steady QB who appears comfortable in his role. Watch his interviews and you’ll see a confident guy who realizes the amount of responsibility on his shoulders.

Cousins and Cook weren’t immediately hailed as heroes. Thorne got some respect in 2020 as a sophomore, and he’s gained even more as a junior this season, but he’s played in only 8 games for Michigan State.

Cousins needed 8 games to hit the 300-yard mark. Exactly 8. Prior to 2009, when he became QB1, he was splitting time with Keith Nichol. In his first year as a full-time starter, he went 6-7 and didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet. It took time for Cousins to develop because everything else around him was in the same position.

Things were a little easier for Cook, who helped MSU leap from Big Ten power to a national-level contender. He had better offensive lines and another influx of highly skilled receivers and running backs. Plus he had a defense that he knew would serve as the backbone of the team, aiding in the erasure of any mistakes made by the offense.

Lewerke needed 7 games before hitting 300 yards.

The purpose here isn’t to directly compare Thorne to Cousins or Cook, or even Lewerke — who had some success but also saw the quick and steep decline of MSU — but it’s to show that Thorne deserves credit for what he’s done thus far with the Spartans.

He’s come into a complete-rebuild situation and led like a QB should lead the team.

He’s completing 62 percent of his passes and not turning over the ball.

Thorne is doing things that Cousins, Cook and Lewerke all had done before taking the next step in QB evolution, from steady and stable to star of the show.

Stardom came naturally, and over time, for MSU’s recent line of successful QBs. With continued progression, things could be the same for Thorne, who’s already replicating some his predecessors’ work and milestones.