Jan 1, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes (15) and cornerback Darqueze Dennard (31) celebrate after Michigan State Spartans beat Stanford Cardinal 24-20 at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s take a look at the all-time Michigan State Football team, position-by-position.
Over the course of Michigan State football’s existence, there have been plenty of top-tier talents to come through and make their mark on the program. Every school has those guys who you talk about in nothing but a positive light because what they did for the program.
Putting together an all-time list for the Michigan State football program isn’t easy because there are so many guys at each position who are worthy of being mentioned.
Here at Spartan Avenue, we took a look at the top players in school history at all positions from quarterback to safety and everything in between. We voted on who would make the all-time Spartan football team and the categories break down as follows:
Note: These aren’t solely based on players with the best stats.
- Quarterback (Top 2)
- Running Backs (Top 2)
- Wide Receivers (Top 2)
- Tight End (No. 1 in MSU history)
- Offensive Line (Top 3, no particular positions)
- Defensive Line (Top 3, no particular positions)
- Linebackers (Top 3, no particular positions)
- Cornerbacks (Top 2)
- Safeties (Top 2)
- Head Coach (No. 1 in school history)
Take a look at who we voted to our all-time Michigan State Football team and let us know if you agree, disagree or think there should be some honorable mentions.
Quarterback(1): Connor Cook
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
There’s no debating this one, Connor Cook is the best quarterback in Michigan State Football history, leading the program in touchdown passes, 71, and is less than 150 yards away from becoming the school’s all-time leader in that category as well.
Cook is the school’s winningest quarterback and he has a chance to lead the Spartans to their first national title since 1966 — yes, 49 years of pain.
The senior quarterback would make any Michigan State all-time team and if you constructed the perfect starting lineup, he would have to be in it. He’s calm, clutch and level-headed and despite the fact that he wasn’t named a captain in his final year in the green and white, Cook is a tremendous leader.
Who would have thought he would have gone from third-string quarterback in 2012 to starting quarterback in 2013, leading Michigan State to three-straight 11-win seasons, a Rose Bowl victory, a Cotton Bowl win and an appearance in the College Football Playoff? Not me.
Oh yeah, and he has two Big Ten titles under his belt.
Next: Quarterback(2)
Quarterback(2): Kirk Cousins
It’s hard to really remember anyone outside of Connor Cook right now because he has won so many games, but that comes with the territory of being an elite program now. Kirk Cousins was Cook before Cook was Cook.
Kirk Cousins was really the quarterback who got the winning tradition started for the Spartans. Some might argue that was Brian Hoyer who was right before him, but Cousins was that guy. Everyone loved him as Michigan State’s quarterback and he led the Spartans to their first bowl win under Dantonio in the 2011 season when they beat Georgia in triple-overtime of the Outback Bowl.
Although he ended up being one of the great winners of the Mark Dantonio Era — and of all time, really — Cousins wasn’t just handed the starting job when Hoyer graduated before the 2009 season. He had to battle it out with Oklahoma-transfer Keith Nichol who eventually converted to wide receiver because Cousins proved to be the better passer.
Cousins was an All-Big Ten type of quarterback and he finished his Spartan career as the leading passer in terms of yards (9,131) and touchdown passes (66) before getting passed up in the latter category by Connor Cook in 2015. Cousins is about to be surpassed by Cook in both of those categories, but he is better than Connor in one category: accuracy.
Captain Kirk is now the starting QB for the Washington Redskins.
Next: Running Back(1)
Running Back(1): Lorenzo White
The first running back to be named for me is an obvious one. Lorenzo White is an all-time great who deserves more recognition, but the success of the backfield in recent years under Dantonio has made people overlook the glory years in which the then-senior running back led the Spartans to their first Rose Bowl victory in 32 years.
After rushing for over 600 yards and four touchdowns during his freshman season, it looked like there was hope for the Hollywood, Fla., native to become a solid back for the Spartans. No one could have predicted just how much he would improve over the years, let alone one season later.
In fact, White became the first Big Ten running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season as a sophomore in 1985, finishing with 2,066 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He was named an All-American that season and even finished fourth in Heisman voting.
However, his junior season wasn’t as successful as he finished with just 633 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games, but he came back with a vengeance in 1987, racking up over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns. As stated earlier, the Spartans won the Rose Bowl that season.
Over his four-year career, White finished with 4,887 yards and 43 touchdowns which both rank No. 1 all-time at MSU. He played eight years in the NFL for the Houston Oilers and Cleveland Browns, finishing with 4,242 rushing yards and 36 total touchdowns.
Next: Running Back(2)
Running Back(2): Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer was one of those guys who was on a blistering pace toward a Heisman Trophy in 2008, but his numbers died down by the end of the season, effectively ending his campaign as the Spartans finished the regular season 9-3 in Dantonio’s second year.
It was tough to put Javon Ringer in this spot over guys like Le’Veon Bell, Clinton Jones, Eric Allen, Blake Ezor, TJ Duckett, Tico Duckett, Sedrick Irvin and Jeremy Langford, but that just goes to show how deep the Michigan State backfield has been over the course of its history.
Ringer was an All-American after the 2008 season in which he rushed for 1,637 yards and 22 touchdowns, but a poor performance against Penn State in Happy Valley to end the regular season really hurt his numbers. He was on pace to break some records, but he fell short because it looked like he was getting tired by the end of his senior year.
Still, though, he was one of the most exciting running backs in Michigan State history and one who has to be included on the all-time MSU list. Ringer finished his career with 4,398 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground, ranking second and fifth in school history, respectively. He went on to play four seasons for the Tennessee Titans, but never really got a true shot.
Next: Wide Receiver(1)
Wide Receiver(1): Charles Rogers
We all know by now that Charles Rogers was one of the bigger busts in recent NFL history as the former All-American wide out at Michigan State suffered injuries in three seasons with the Detroit Lions after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Did you know that Charles Rogers currently holds an NCAA record? While at Michigan State, he developed a solid bond with quarterback Jeff Smoker and the two connected for at least one touchdown toss in 13 straight games which still has yet to be broken by a collegiate receiver about 13 years later.
You might be wondering just why I believe he’s the top receiver in school history because his NFL career was so bad, but this list is about MSU history, not NFL history. He happened to be one of the most dominant receivers in the country for two years and he put up video game-like numbers while he was wearing the green and white.
Rogers currently holds the school record for receiving touchdowns (27), ranks sixth in catches (135), third in receiving yards (2,821) and second in yards per catch (20.9). He also has three of the top 10 most prolific receiving games in school history, racking up marks of 270, 206 and 191 yards as the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 9 most in a single game at MSU, respectively.
If it weren’t for his clavicle injury that he suffered in practice which seemed to be the reason his career folded up, he could have been a formidable pro. Also, if he played more than two years at MSU, he would have shattered every record in the books.
Next: Wide Receiver(2)
Wide Receiver(2): Andre Rison
Many of us have heard the last name ‘Rison’ mentioned recently with ties to Michigan State because of 2017 four-star receiver Hunter Rison’s decommitment from the program in order to make sure he’s choosing the right school for him. As we all know by now, Hunter is a legacy recruit as his dad, Andre Rison, happens to be one of the top receivers in Michigan State history.
After catching just 19 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman receiver in 1985, Rison’s career really took off the following three seasons. He was a member of the famous 1987 team that won the Rose Bowl — as you will soon find out, it was loaded with talent.
Rison then caught 54 passes for 964 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, 34 passes for 784 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and then finished his career with 39 receptions for 961 yards and eight scores. He ranks fourth all-time in receptions (146), fourth in touchdown catches (20), third in yards per catch (20.49) and second in yards (2,992).
The wide receiver became one of the most successful, if not the most successful, Spartan receivers to come out of East Lansing and play in the pros. He finished his career with five Pro Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl ring, 743 career receptions with over 10,200 yards and 84 touchdown catches.
“Bad Moon” Rison is definitely a top-two receiver at MSU.
Next: Tight End
Tight End: Chris Baker
As a kid, I remembered playing tight end for my fourth grade football team and wanting to be like Chris Baker. Even as a freshman in 1998, Baker was a solid contributor in the passing game and that was during a time in which tight ends weren’t exactly known for setting the world on fire — unlike the Rob Gronkowskis of today’s game.
Baker caught an impressive 22 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns, making a name for himself early on. He was named to the 1999 All-Big Ten Second-Team after catching 38 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns.
It’s kind of odd to realize that he wasn’t named to any All-Big Ten teams as a junior or a senior since those were his best seasons at Michigan State. The passing attack with Plaxico Burress and Chris Baker catching passes during that time had to have been killer for defenses.
In 2000, Baker had 33 catches for 461 yards and two touchdowns and then he finished his senior season with 40 receptions for 548 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks eighth all-time in receptions (133), 18th in receiving yards (1,705) and 12th in touchdown catches (13) in MSU history. He was drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft and finished his career with over 1,600 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches.
Josiah Price, Charlie Gantt, Dion Sims and Kellen Davis all narrowly missed this position.
Next: Offensive Lineman(1)
Offensive Lineman(1): Tony Mandarich
Luckily this list is based on college careers and not pro careers because many believe former Michigan State offensive tackle Tony Mandarich is the biggest NFL Draft bust in league history. He was selected No. 2 overall in the 1989 NFL Draft, but failed to live up to expectations in the league. Mandarich was widely considered the best offensive line prospect ever, but he fell flat.
At Michigan State, he was feared by opponents. No defensive lineman wanted to go up against the 6-foot-6, 330-pound left tackle who wasn’t afraid of anyone and who helped lead the 1987 Spartans to a Rose Bowl victory — he was a large reason for Lorenzo White’s running success that year.
Recruited by Nick Saban, Mandarich was a quirky guy who definitely lived out his Michigan State career as a partier. He was known for being out there, but his play on the field made up for his antics off of it.
Mandarich was the most successful Michigan State lineman of all-time, however. He finished his career as an Outland Trophy finalist, a two-time Big Ten Lineman of the Year and an All-American. He was chosen No. 2 overall in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers — one spot ahead of legendary running back Barry Sanders.
It’s too bad his college success couldn’t translate to the big boy league.
Next: Offensive Lineman(2)
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)
Offensive Lineman(3): Flozell Adams
Looking at Flozell Adams, you could see just why he deserves to make a list like this as one of Michigan State’s all-time greatest offensive linemen. Our third selection was born and raised in Chicago, Ill., before getting recruited by Nick Saban to play for MSU in 1994 through 1997.
Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 368 pounds, Adams definitely has that look of an All-American caliber offensive lineman. He was nicknamed “The Hotel” and it may have had something to do with just how massive he was. Adams wasn’t an overly athletic lineman, but he did the job as the Spartans had an impressive run game during his time with the Spartans.
Adams was named a first-team All-American and the 1997 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, really making a name for himself as the 1998 NFL Draft approached. He was selected early in the second round as the No. 38 overall pick in the draft. He played 13 seasons in the league, 12 with the Dallas Cowboys, being selected to five Pro Bowls and starting 194 games.
Although the Spartans didn’t win a bowl game with Adams as right tackle who moved to left tackle, he would be a perfect addition to this all-time team and could you imagine this year’s team with a guy like Adams anchoring the line along with Jack Conklin? Just scary.
Next: Defensive Lineman(1)
Defensive Lineman(1): Bubba Smith
Back when two-bar facemasks were cool, Bubba Smith was knocking the slobber out of ballcarriers. You might be wondering why a guy from Orange, Texas, would want to come up and play for the Michigan State Spartans back in the 1960s and that answer is simple: segregation in the south at the time was unbearable and led Smith to head north to better himself and his football career.
That ended up being the best decision he could have made, becoming one of the most feared defensive ends in all of college football and even helping the Spartans win national titles in 1965 and 1966 in his final two seasons with the school.
The phrase “Kill, Bubba, Kill” was chanted by Michigan State fans during his time there because of his predator-like presence on the defensive side of the ball that had offensive players running the other way.
Bubba wasn’t exactly a small figure, either. He stood about 6-foot-7 and weighed nearly 300 pounds while most offensive linemen during that time were not nearly as large as they are now — just look at how big Don Coleman was.
“The Game of the Century” against Notre Dame happened to be Smith’s final collegiate game as, famously, it ended in a 10-10 tie between the unbeaten Irish and 9-0 Spartans. His No. 95 was retired in 2006.
Smith had such a successful career at Michigan State that he was selected No. 1 overall in the 1967 NFL Draft, was named to two Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with the Colts in 1970.
Next: Defensive Lineman(2)
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A Michigan State Spartans fan cheers against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Lineman(2): Larry Bethea
It’s not often a player breaks a record and has it stand for about 40 years, but that’s exactly what Larry Bethea did at Michigan State. Barring a ridiculous final two-game stretch for current Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun in which he would have to record 6.5 sacks, Bethea’s all-time sack record will live on.
Finishing his Spartan career with 33 career sacks and 43 tackles for loss, Bethea is one of the greatest penetrators in not only Michigan State history, but Big Ten history as well. His best season came in 1977 when he put together one of the most dominant stat lines you will ever hear. Bethea recorded 45 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles and 16 sacks on his way to becoming the Big Ten MVP — the first defensive player to win the award since Dick Butkus in 1963.
It was clear that he was a nearly impossible-to-block force in the conference and he was named to two All-Big Ten teams as well. He was drafted No. 28 overall in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and played six years in the league.
While his personal life which included a drug addiction, domestic altercations and armed robbery have since overshadowed the converted tight end’s successful career and led to his death at the age of 30, Bethea is still considered one of the best Spartans to ever put on the uniform.
Next: Defensive Lineman(3)
Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) stands on the field during the 1st quarter of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Lineman(3): Shilique Calhoun
This is one that might be debated a bit. With guys like Robaire Smith and Jerel Worthy still yet to be named, why would I pick a guy like Shilique Calhoun? My answer: why not?
Calhoun has proven to be one of the best defensive ends in Michigan State history, climbing up the sack leaderboards, recently passing Julian Peterson as Shilique recorded his 26th and 27th career QB sacks against Iowa in the Big Ten title game.
As a high school recruit, Shilique was lightly scouted and the Spartans got a steal when they decided to offer the Middletown, N.J., native who was looked at as a low three-star prospect. Mark Dantonio believed he could make him great and he did just that, molding Calhoun to his likeness.
The fifth-year senior defensive end has helped lead Michigan State to some of its most successful seasons ever, including a 13-win Rose Bowl season in 2013, an 11-win Cotton Bowl season in 2014, a College Football Playoff appearance and current 12-1 record in 2015 and two Big Ten titles — in 2013 and 2015.
During his time in East Lansing, Calhoun has become the school’s second all-time sack leader, he has recorded 43.5 tackles for loss (4th all-time and just 4.5 away from No. 1) and 127 career tackles. Don’t forget his interception returned for a touchdown and fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns as a sophomore.
If all goes as planned, Calhoun will be a first or second round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and put together a solid professional career.
Next: Linebacker(1)
Linebacker(1): George Webster
There might not be much of an argument for this one. It was tough to pinpoint an actual position for George Webster, but head coach Duffy Daugherty created a position just for him called “roverback” which was something in between a defensive back and a linebacker. For all intents and purposes, we will consider him a linebacker as the top player, in my opinion, in Michigan State football history deserves to be a prominent figure on this list.
Webster stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 218 pounds when he played for the Spartans from 1964-66. He played on one of the best defenses in college football history, even teaming up with another all-time great on this list in Bubba Smith.
A duo like that had to have been revered by all of college football as they helped lead Michigan State to two national titles and a 19-1-1 record in his last two seasons as a member of the green and white.
Remember the infamous game in which Michigan State’s defense held Michigan to negative-48 rushing yards a few years ago? That seemed like an incredible, unheard of feat, but little do people know that a Webster-led defense held Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame to a combined negative-85 yards rushing. Yes, three of college football’s biggest powerhouses who couldn’t do anything against MSU’s Webster and Smith in 1965.
The Spartans were national champs that year and Webster was a big reason for that. Webster was drafted fifth overall in 1967 and made the AFL All-Star Game in each of his first three years and then went on to play a decade in the NFL.
Next: Linebacker(2)
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)
Nov 14, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans take the field prior to a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Linebacker(3): Dan Bass
The linebackers on this list could probably make the all-time team for any school had they attended a different university. When you have guys like Greg Jones, Max Bullough, Julian Peterson, Ike Reese, Charlie Thornhill, Cark Banks and Denicos Allen left off, that means that talent at the position has been oozing for the green and white since the beginning of time.
On to Dan Bass, though. Michigan State’s hard-nosed linebacker from the late-1970s was a tackling machine. He has some records at Michigan State that will likely never be broken, starting with his all-time leading 541 career tackles — that averages out to an incredible 135.3 per season. Also, he once recorded 32 tackles in a single game against Ohio State, a mark which will likely never be touched.
Bass led the Spartans in tackles for four straight seasons, joining Greg Jones as the only Spartans to ever do so. Many consider him one of the top linebackers in school history and it’s hard not to when you look at his eye-popping numbers. He helped lead Michigan State to a Big Ten title in 1978 and despite his successful career at MSU, Bass ended up playing in the Canadian Football League and not the NFL.
If you think about a linebacking group of Bass, Percy Snow and George Webster, there might not be a better all-time list in college football.
Next: Cornerback(1)
Cornerback(1): Darqueze Dennard
If you try to disagree with this one, you will be forced to live in Spartan exile forever. OK, I’m just kidding, but if you’ve watched Michigan State football for decades, Darqueze Dennard has to be that one player who really sticks out in the defensive backfield.
Heralded as a two-star recruit, no one wanted to offer this kid a scholarship, but the unbelievably wise Michigan State staff under Coach Dantonio saw something in Dennard while playing high school ball against Keith Mumphery in Georgia that they really liked. They offered the young corner a scholarship and he accepted. It turns out that partnership worked out perfectly for both parties.
Also being looked at as a receiver, it was clear the coaching staff wanted him on defense and that’s where he excelled from 2010-13. During his freshman season, he received very little playing time and fans didn’t know much about him. He recorded 11 total tackles, but his three interceptions opened some eyes — especially the one he returned for a touchdown.
In 2011 as a sophomore, Dennard really stepped his game up, earning more playing time and finishing the year with 42 tackles and three picks yet again — his biggest interception came in the Outback Bowl which he returned for a touchdown and it sparked an MSU comeback win over Georgia.
As a junior, he had 52 tackles and three picks and his senior year consisted of 60 tackles, three interceptions and yet another returned for a touchdown. He also deflected 26 passes over his final three years at Michigan State.
Dennard was named to the All-Big Ten first-team twice, he was a consensus All-American in 2013, he won the 2013 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, he was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award and Jack Tatum Trophy for the top defensive back in college football and he led the Spartans to two Big Ten titles and a Rose Bowl victory.
This physical, hard-nosed cornerback wasn’t afraid to hit and he was known for being stuck like glue to receivers, making for some long days on offense. Darqueze was drafted 24th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Next: Cornerback(2)
Cornerback(2): Renaldo Hill
If there’s one guy who knows how to play cornerback, and play it well, it’s Renaldo Hill from the 1998-2000 Spartans, playing in the final years of Nick Saban and the first year of a short stay for Bobby Williams. Hill still played an incredible career at MSU, becoming one of the all-time greats and earning the trust of Pat Narduzzi who has him on his staff at Pittsburgh as the cornerbacks coach.
Back to Hill’s college career. Saban hadn’t done much as the head coach for Michigan State in his first four years with the program, notching more than six wins just once, but his best win came at the expense of No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus in 1998.
Heavy underdog Michigan State was leading 28-24 with just about 1:15 left in the fourth quarter when Ohio State QB Joe Germaine stepped back for a 4th-and-10 pass from the Spartans’ 15-yard-line and tossed it into the end zone, only to have the ball picked off by none other than Renaldo Hill.
If there’s one play in which he’s remembered by in East Lansing, it’s the seal-the-deal interception against the No. 1 Buckeyes.
Other than that, he still had a great three years with the green and white, intercepting five passes in his first season, recording 57 tackles and 13 pass deflections along with an interception the next year and finished off his college career with 71 tackles, 11 pass deflections and three picks. He was named second-team All-Big Ten and ranks fourth in school history with 36 pass deflections.
Next: Safety(1)
Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of Spartan Stadium during the 1st half game of a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Safety(1): Lynn Chandnois
Another guy who holds multiple records at Michigan State, Lynn Chandnois is a named you probably wouldn’t recognize if you were born in the 1990s like me. Luckily for you guys, I have done my research and have found nothing but solid stats contributing to his spot on this list as the No. 1 safety on the All-Michigan State Football team.
Heck, you might not even know this name if you were born in the 1970s as Chandnois played from 1946-49 for Charlie Bachman in his final season as head coach and then at the beginning of Biggie Munn’s tenure.
Not only did Chandnois play defense, but he was also a running back and a top-notch returner, even finishing second all-time to Gale Sayers in kickoff return average in the NFL — that’s some good company to be in.
In 1949, Chandnois was named an All-American and was a well-respected man even before he came to Michigan State as he joined the United States Naval Air Corps out of high school for two years. Nearly 70 years later and Chandnois still owns the Michigan State all-time interceptions record, with 20, and also No. 1 in school history in interception return yards (410).
Chandnois was drafted eighth overall in 1950 and two years later he was named the NFL Player of the Year. He was also named to two Pro Bowls.
It might be a while before his 20 career interceptions are topped.
Next: Safety(2)
Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) scrambles out of the pocket during the 1st half game of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Safety(2): Brad Van Pelt
Another guy who this generation, including myself, wasn’t around for, Brad Van Pelt was an outstanding safety for the Spartans from 1970-72. He was an unusually large player for the safety position, almost giving off the look of a linebacker. Van Pelt stood 6-foot-5 and weighed 220 pounds, but could still run, jump and hit like a safety.
Van Pelt could easily be in Chandnois’ spot on this All-MSU team, but for now, he will stay here as the No. 2 safety.
Just how good was Van Pelt? Besides being named a two-time All-American and ranking fourth in MSU history with 14 interceptions and second with 268 interceptions return yards, he was also the first defensive back in college football history to win the Maxwell Award. In case you aren’t familiar with the honor, it’s given annually to the best player in college football.
Although he played during a time in which Michigan State finished no higher than third in the Big Ten and recorded no more than six wins when he was still there, Van Pelt became one of the most adored Spartans in program history. Heck, many might even consider him a top-two or three defensive player to ever come through East Lansing.
Van Pelt was selected with the No. 40 pick overall in the 1973 NFL Draft, recording 20 career interceptions and 24.5 sacks as a linebacker at the next level. He was also named to five Pro Bowls.
Next: Head Coach
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Michigan State won 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
After John L. Smith, all hope was lost in East Lansing. The rambunctious head coach wore out his welcome with the Michigan State football program and fans after just four seasons, going 22-26 during that time with plenty of face-palm moments.
Must Read: Michigan State Football: Top 10 quarterbacks in school history
Mark Dantonio was hired as the head coach in 2007 and it seemed, at the time, to be a safe hire, but not many fans had heard of the Cincinnati Bearcats lead man. Little did many fans know, Dantonio was actually an assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State from 1995-2000 and was the defensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes who won the 2002 National Championship.
Dantonio’s resume was solid, but would he be good enough to lead Michigan State back to relevance after decades of hurt?
The answer has been a resounding yes. Dantonio has the highest win percentage (87-35; .731) of any Michigan State coach in recent memory. The only coaches to have higher percentages are Biggie Munn (54-9-2; .846) and John F. Macklin (29-5; .853).
Before he retires, Dantonio will likely become the all-time winningest coach in Michigan State history, needing just 22 to tie Duffy Daugherty. Right now, he’s a national title away from becoming the best coach in school history and maybe the No. 1 or No. 2 coaching college football — along with Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.
Next: MSU Football: Top 10 games of the Mark Dantonio Era
Dantonio has won 87 games in nine years, 52 Big Ten games, the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the Outback Bowl, two Big Ten Championship Games, three conference titles overall, three division titles and five 11-win seasons in the past six years along with a berth in the College Football Playoff this season.
Coach D is the best in program history.