Michigan State Football: Top 50 players of all time

Nov 30, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Max Bullough (40) and Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Tyler Hoover (91) talk on field during the 2nd half a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 14-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

24. Max Bullough

The heart and soul of the defense for three years while he was the starter, Max Bullough was one of those Spartans players who epitomized what it meant to be tough and what it meant to bleed green. Unfortunately, though, the linebacker, a senior at the time, failed to live out his dream of playing in the 2014 Rose Bowl after he was suspended for unspecified reasons.

The grandson of Hank Bullough, son of Chuck Bullough and older brother of Riley and Byron Bullough — all current/former Spartans — Max was the third in the line of family members to attend MSU on a football scholarship.

Max happened to be the most successful of the bunch, so far, and is the only Bullough to make the top 50 list.

During his first season in 2010, Bullough played sparingly and was still named to a few publication’s All-Freshman teams. He finished with 23 total tackles, a half a sack and an interception. His sophomore season was much more impressive as he was a second-team All-Big Ten linebacker with 89 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and an interception.

Bullough was named a first-team All-Big Ten linebacker during his junior and senior seasons, combining for 187 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and two interceptions while leading the Spartans to the Big Ten title game in 2013. He is 18th all-time in career tackles (299) and his younger brothers have some big shoes to fill.

Next: 23. Greg Jones