Michigan State Football: 5 players poised for a career year

Nov 22, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Jeremy Langford (33) is wrapped up by Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Johnathan Aiken (26) during the1st quarter of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Running backs have definitely succeeded in the Mark Dantonio offense since 2007. First it was Javon Ringer, then a mix between Edwin Baker and Larry Caper, then it was Le’Veon Bell followed by Jeremy Langford. Four out of five of those running backs were drafted into the NFL and one (Bell) is currently considered a top-three back in the league right now.

While Michigan State has produced great running backs, most of them have been lower-rated stars in the recruiting trail with the exception of Caper and Baker — those two guys were expected to do big things for MSU.

Bell was a two-star and Langford started his career with Michigan State as a defensive player. So where does that take us?

Enter, freshman phenom Larry Scott from Hubbard High School in Ohio. Scott, a highly-touted top-100 running back is ranked as the No. 59 player in the nation by 247Sports and may just be the best running back prospect to pick Michigan State in quite some time.

While he may not even win the starting job with Madre London and Gerald Holmes also battling it out for the starting spot, Scott is the most talented of the three.

If Mark Dantonio gives Larry Scott a real chance at competing for the starting job as a true freshman, which is rare, then expect him to become one of the best running backs in the entire nation, not just best freshmen.

Scott has a chance to do something special at MSU, and if he gets the nod as a freshman, he could go down as one of the best to ever play the position in East Lansing.

I say he does get quality playing time and delivers, racking up 780 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Next: 1. Montae Nicholson, SS