Chris Solari | Detroit Free Press

Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING — Michigan State Spartans fans already know Rocky Lombardi for his football-famous name.

They might get a chance to learn more about the redshirt freshman as a quarterback Saturday.

Starter Brian Lewerke remains questionable with a right shoulder injury, which means Lombardi could make his first career start, with the task of jump-starting the Spartans’ stagnant offense against Purdue.

Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

“I’m ready to play every Saturday," Lombardi said after practice Tuesday. “It’s my job as the backup quarterback to prepare to start every week. I feel like I’ve done a good job of that, and I’ll continue to do a good job of that.”

Lewerke declined to answer questions about whether he would be available against the Boilermakers. The junior starter expects to be a game-time decision.

“I think we have a pretty good feel who knows what right now and who can do what right now,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday. “We just have to allow it to take shape.”

Much like they learned about Lewerke during his redshirt freshman season in 2016, the Spartans (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) could get an extended glimpse at the future against Purdue (4-3, 3-1). Or perhaps longer, depending on the severity of Lewerke’s ailment and how long it takes to mend.

So who is Rocky Lombardi?

Every bit of his name.

Football genes

Nick King/Lansing State Journal

The Lombardi name is synonymous with football. And Rocky is a football junkie.

Rocky's great-grandfather, Walter Hass, was a halfback, three-year letterwinner and captain of the Minnesota Gophers from 1930-32, before embarking on his coaching and athletic administration career. That included a stint as at University of Chicago athletic director, where he resurrected football and eventually was replaced by Bob Lombardi.

Bob Lombardi, Rocky’s grandfather, also was an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer from suburban Chicago.

Rocky’s father, Tony, was a running back at Arizona State. He got a taste of the NFL at Chicago Bears camp, but did not make the team, and became a college and high school coach.

Tony Lombardi said he always wanted to name his son after former Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Steelers star Rocky Bleier, who was “a beacon of what I wanted to be — a tough-minded, hard-working journeyman type of guy.” It also evokes visions of Sylvester Stallone’s scrappy fighter, which fits with the younger Lombardi’s wrestling background.

“And of course, as luck would have it, he’s blond-haired and blue-eyed,” Tony joked this week. “You would not see a Rocky when you look at him. Yet somehow, it’s so interesting. When you look at him now and what he’s become as a man, he’s exactly Rocky Lombardi.”

The legend of Rocky Lombardi began with his father’s 7-on-7 high school team, which was being quarterbacked by A.J. Puk. That summer, Puk told Tony he planned to quit football at Washington High in Iowa to focus on baseball (he was eventually drafted by the Detroit Tigers before playing collegiately at Florida and is now with the Oakland Athletics).

Tony was in a pinch. He gave Rocky a helmet to serve as the quarterback.

The seventh-grader won all six games that day against suburban high school coaches.

Rocky would shine in every sport he tried.

He was a state champion wrestler who was nationally ranked.

He qualified for the Iowa state track meet in discus with minimal experience.

He played baseball.

But football was his calling.

Getting a chance?

Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Lombardi excelled at Valley High in West Des Moines, Iowa. The 6-foot-3, 218-pounder went 30-6 as a three-year starter, threw for 5,818 yards and 66 touchdowns, and ran for 979 yards and 17 scores. Lombardi was a two First-Team All-State selection.

The 3-star recruit picked MSU over Iowa and Iowa State, among other schools. He quickly became one of the most talked-about scout team players last season as he took a redshirt.

Dantonio said true freshman Theo Day could see some action this season due to new redshirt rules. However, he said “Rocky has a bigger foundation” than Day.

Showing off his athleticism, Lombardi made his collegiate debut as an emergency punter at Arizona State this season. He got his first series at quarterback in MSU’s win over Central Michigan, and directed the final drive in the 21-7 loss to Michigan last Saturday.

Lombardi completed his first pass attempt against the Wolverines and also ran for 10 yards. However, he has been sacked three times in his two brief appearances.

“I mean, it goes a little bit faster,” Lombardi said. “But it’s still the same game, it’s still football.”

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Dantonio said Lombardi took the majority of the reps with the No. 1 offense last week while Lewerke missed practice. The 12th-year coach wants to see his young quarterback “get rid of the football” quicker and avoid sacks in his next action.

That could be this weekend. His father, who now is working at Michigan City High in Indiana, understands the job remains Lewerke’s. The coach in him knows that.

However, the father in him wants MSU fans to know if Rocky gets his chance, it would be a chance for them to get to know a little more about his son.

“He will go to war for the Spartans,” Tony Lombardi said. “He is not faint of heart. I’m going to the game expecting to watch Brian Lewerke play quarterback. And if Rocky steps out there, then I’m gonna cheer for Rocky. … I’m excited that he might get an opportunity to find out what he needs to do.

“The truth is, it would be nothing more than a first step. It would be an opportunity to begin getting better at his craft.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.