Brian Lewerke cemented his role as Michigan State's quarterback of the future this season.

That resulted in roster attrition.

Two days after the redshirt sophomore helped lead the No. 16 Spartans (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) to a 42-17 Holiday Bowl win against No. 18 Washington State (9-4, 6-3 Pac-12) in San Diego, redshirt freshman quarterback Messiah deWeaver announced Saturday night he would transfer from Michigan State.

A former four-star prospect from Wayne High School in Ohio, deWeaver signed with Michigan State's 2016 class and took a redshirt last season. He appeared in just two games this season and never attempted a pass while finishing with four carries for minus-1 yard rushing.

Lewerke had a breakout season in his first year as a full-time starter and completed 59.0 percent of his passes (246-for-417) for 2,793 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Michigan State will enter next season with its top two backups for Lewerke from this fall as fifth-year senior Damion Terry closed his career in the Holiday Bowl win and deWeaver is leaving. True freshman Rocky Lombardi took a redshirt this season and earlier this month the Spartans signed four-star quarterback Theo Day to their 2018 class.