Michigan State Football: All-time Spartan team

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end George Kittle (46) loses control of the ball in the end zone while defended by Michigan State Spartans safety Montae Nicholson (9) and linebacker Riley Bullough (30) during the first half in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker(2): Percy Snow

Like the Bulloughs, the Snow family has been very kind to Michigan State. Percy Snow was one of the most impressive linebackers in college football during his time with the Spartans, recording the second-most tackles in school history behind Dan Bass with 473 while he younger brother, Eric, played basketball for the Spartans and had a solid NBA career.

Percy was a member of the 1987 Spartans who won their first Rose Bowl in over 30 years which also happened to be the school’s first bowl victory of any kind since 1955. Snow was around for two more years and led the Spartans to three straight bowl games and an Aloha Bowl victory in his senior season.

We may look at Michigan State’s run defense right now as one of the best in the country and over the past few seasons it has been one of the top units in the Big Ten, but when Snow was roaming the defense, the Spartans had the best run-stopping team in the conference for three consecutive years.

During his career at MSU, he was named the Rose Bowl MVP for his 17 total tackles (15 solos), a two-time All-American as a junior and senior, winner of the Butkus and Lombardi awards during his senior season and he recorded double-digit tackles 11 times in 1989.

Offenses feared him and opposing defenses wanted to have him. He was drafted 13th overall in 1990, but his career was cut short after just three seasons due to a knee injury.

Next: Linebacker(3)