Michigan State Football: Top 50 players of all time

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

44. Bob Apisa

Not often do you see a fullback make the list, but Bob Apisa was an athletic anomaly who really broke ground for Hawaiian-born athletes in college football. He set up the pipeline for players like Marcus Mariota to come from the islands and make it in college football and eventually the NFL.

Besides being a legend in his home state of Hawaii, Apisa was one of the best fullbacks in college football, and MSU, history. Although his position is known primarily for blocking, as it always has, Apisa broke the tradition a bit, running the ball far more than a normal fullback ever would, or had.

A backfield with him and blocking for Clinton Jones was a scary thought for defenses, especially when the blocker was almost as good as the running back himself.

In 1965, as a freshman, Apisa was seventh in the Big Ten in rushing attempts with 126, racking up 715 yards and 10 touchdowns in the process. The next season, his numbers dipped a bit, but the physical, blocking/rushing fullback finished with 445 yards and eight touchdowns. His final season was the least impressive as he failed to reach the end zone nor the 200-yard mark.

Show me another fullback in college football who has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns — I bet you can’t.

Apisa is 23rd in MSU history in touchdown runs.

Next: 43. Trae Waynes