EAST LANSING, Mich. — The answers will come soon enough. The testimonials are piling up in the meantime.

Michigan State first-year starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell is impressing coaches and teammates with his camp performance. Quarterbacks coach Dave Warner might have delivered the biggest compliment — and establishment of expectations — to date Friday.

“I expect Andrew to go into this season where Kirk Cousins went into 2011,” Warner said. “And Kirk Cousins had two years of starting under his belt. But Andrew has been through those same years, and he has learned, although not being on the field. He has learned through Kirk’s big plays, big decisions. And he’s learned through the mistakes as well. So we anticipate him to step in there and just continue taking the offense to the next level, hopefully.”

Cousins was a fourth-round pick of the Washington Redskins after leaving MSU with most of its passing records and the most wins for a quarterback in school history. He was a three-time captain for the Spartans.

Maxwell saw spot duty behind Cousins the past two seasons and will debut as the starter when Boise State visits Spartan Stadium on Aug. 31.

But MSU junior cornerback Darqueze Dennard said there’s “really no drop-off” from Cousins to Maxwell, adding: “Kirk was smarter and I guess he had more freelance (freedom) for play-calling. But I pretty much think they’re neck-and-neck.”

Warner also said it has been several practices since Maxwell threw an interception.

“He’s a complete quarterback,” junior defensive end Will Gholston said. “He doesn’t sweat under pressure. He can take a hit — I’ve tried to touch him a couple times.”