Michigan State Football: Top 50 players of all time

Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Delton Williams (22) celebrates with a school flag after the Spartans

21. Clinton Jones

Michigan State might as well be known as “Running Back U” for all of the talent that has come and gone at the running back position. Clinton Jones was the running back who followed Sherm Lewis at MSU in 1964 and put up even better numbers in the process, finishing 18th in school history with 1,921 yards on the ground.

This was the period in which the running backs had a bigger role in the offense and he played a more pivotal role with the Spartans’ attack than Lewis did before him.

In his first season in 1964, he rushed for 350 yards and four touchdowns, setting the bar relatively high for an increased workload in the following two years. Jones then rushed for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1965 along with 27 receptions for 314 yards and two scores. During his final season in 1966, Jones had 784 yards and six touchdowns and finished sixth in Heisman voting and was also named an All-American.

Jones was the running back for the 1965 and 1966 national champion Spartans who were the last to win the title in school history. He was picked No. 2 overall in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and played through the 1973 season.

Next: 20. Julian Peterson