Michigan State Football: Top 50 players of all time

Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of Michigan State Spartans helmet during the 1st quarter of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

13. Percy Snow

You can’t really have an all-time list without a guy like Percy Snow. Although he didn’t break Danny Bass’ all-time tackle record at MSU, Snow is considered one of the greatest linebackers to ever wear the green and white, if not the greatest.

Snow ranks second in MSU history in tackles with 473, but 463 of those came in his final three seasons, the most in that span. That’s really an incredible number if you think about it, averaging about 154 tackles per season. He was a ferocious hitter who made ball carriers think twice before running in his direction.

Helping the Spartans to their first Rose Bowl game since 1965, Snow was named the game’s MVP in 1988 when the Spartans beat USC to take home the crown.

Not only was he a tremendously aggressive tackler with an impressive nose for the ball, Snow was solid in coverage as well, ending his career with six interceptions and four in his final season with MSU in 1989. Michigan State had one of its most successful runs with Snow manning the middle of the field, recording a 23-11-2 overall record with a Rose Bowl win, Big Ten title, Aloha Bowl victory and three straight bowl appearances.

It was hard to put him this low on the list, but the guys ahead of him are just that good.

Next: 12. Brad Van Pelt