Michigan State Football: All-time Spartan team

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A helmet is raised in celebration after the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Lineman(2): Don Coleman

If Don Coleman played football today, he would likely be considered a safety or a wide receiver or basically anything else other than an offensive lineman. Standing just 5-foot-10 and weighing in at 185 pounds, Coleman was one of the smaller offensive linemen Spartan history, but that shouldn’t take away from his unbelievable amounts of success.

Coleman played under Clarence “Biggie” Munn, who happened to be one of the greatest coaches in Michigan State history, from 1949-51. During those years, Michigan State went 23-4 with a national title in the slight-framed offensive tackle’s last season with the green and white.

Known for being able to play larger than he was, Coleman could take out multiple defenders on a single block, or so the legend states. He may have been small, but he could do it all. He played offensive line, special teams and sometimes even defense.

Rarely coming off the field, Coleman became Michigan State’s first unanimous All-American in 1951 and also the school’s first African American to receive the honor. He was a finalist for the Outland Trophy that season as well and did his home town of Flint proud. Some might even say Coleman is the original Flintstone — OK, maybe that’s just me.

Next: Offensive Lineman(3)