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Michigan State football QB Rocky Lombardi ready to start ... punting?

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio's weekly press conference to preview the Spartans' Big Ten opener Saturday at Indiana. Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING — Rocky Lombardi hoped he would get the keys to Michigan State football’s offense. He still does.

But his first extended college football playing experience wasn't quite what he expected.

The redshirt freshman quarterback's baptism came when he replaced injured senior punter Jake Hartbarger in the fourth quarter of the Spartans’ 16-13 loss at Arizona State.

And with Hartbarger now out for 6 to 8 weeks, Lombardi will take over as 23rd-ranked MSU’s punter as it heads into Big Ten play Saturday at Indiana (7:30 p.