Michigan State football: 15 greatest running backs in Spartans history
By John Buhler
Javon Ringer is certainly one of the most decorated running backs in Michigan State football history. The prized recruit from Dayton, Ohio first came to East Lansing in 2005. As a freshman, he rushed for 817 yards on 122 carries for five touchdowns, making the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in the process.
Looking to build off his strong freshman campaign, Ringer experienced a bit of a sophomore slump. He suffered a knee injury that kept him out of five ball games, limiting him to only eight appearances for the Spartans that fall. However, Ringer would bounce back resoundingly in his junior season in 2007.
Ringer was healthy all of 2007, as he ran for 1,447 yards on 245 carries for six touchdowns. He also had 35 catches for 295 yards out of the Michigan State backfield. Ringer would be named Second-Team All-Big Ten, as well as Spartan’s team MVP that fall. But he wasn’t done just yet.
In his senior season of 2008, that is when Ringer made himself a Michigan State legend at the running back position. He rushed for 1,637 yards on a ridiculous 390 carries for an absurd 22 rushing touchdowns. Ringer was also able to haul in 28 grabs for an additional 290 yards through the air as a receiver.
He was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2008, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, was named a consensus First-Team All-American and finished 10th in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Ringer would go on to be drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, where he would play four injury-riddled professional seasons before hanging up the spikes.
In his Michigan State career, Ringer finished with 843 carries for 4,398 yards and 34 rushing touchdowns. Those totals put him second, second and fifth all time in Spartans football history. Though only one Michigan State running back was better, the gap between Ringer at No. 2 and the legend at No. 1 is undeniably massive.