Michigan State Football: Top 50 players of all time

Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; General view of Michigan State Spartans helmet on field prior to a game against Western Michigan at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

36. Dan Currie

Imagine a guy like Jack Allen playing linebacker on defense and center on offense and earning All-American honors for being one of the best in the nation at both. Dan Currie was that type of playing from 1955-57 and he earned himself a third overall draft pick in 1958 by the Green Bay Packers for his services at the linebacker position.

Currie is now in the Packers Hall of Fame and was a multiple-time All-Pro selection at linebacker.

Back in the time of one-bar face masked helmets, Currie was one of the meanest players on the field and earned the reputations of a hard hitter who didn’t go easy on his opponents. Michigan State defense over the years has been known as gritty and tough to attack and Currie might be the first such player to earn that distinction in school history.

During one of the most successful era in Michigan State football history, and in Duffy Daugherty’s early going, Currie helped lead the Spartans to a 24-4 overall record with a Rose Bowl victory and two top-five finishes. The Spartans finished the season ranked in all three years he was on the team.

The feared Currie was one of the best Packers linebackers in franchise history and it turns out his No. 3 overall pick was deserved.

Next: 35. Larry Bethea