Michigan State football: 15 greatest running backs in Spartans history

Duane Goulbourne spent a long time playing for the Michigan State football team. He was on the team for four seasons over six years, thanks to a pair of medical redshirts, including one that came in what should have been his senior year in 1995.

But Goulbourne was a consistent running back for the Spartans in the mid-1990s. In what were his final three seasons of playing, Goulbourne had at least 196 carries for 930 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He would have no fewer than 15 catches for 117 yards through the air during the same stretch.

While his 1993, 1994 and 1996 NCAA seasons were within only a few yards of each other, one could argue that his best campaign in the green and white came in 1993, his first year of real collegiate gridiron action.

Goulbourne rushed for 973 yards on 196 carries for eight touchdowns in 12 games. This led to him having career bests in yardage, yards per attempt (5.0) and trips to pay dirt. In total, he achieved 1,100 all-purpose yards in 1993.

In 1994, he went over 200 carries for 930 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. After having to take a medical redshirt in 1995, Goulbourne returned with 942 rushing yards and seven trips to pay dirt. Despite never going over 1,000 yards in a year on the ground, his consistency was key in him creeping his way up the Michigan State rushing record books.

During his time in college, Goulbourne amassed 627 carries for 2,848 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. He ranks seventh, 10th and 13th in Michigan State history in those categories, respectively. Even though those totals came over six years, given that they occurred in what was essentially just three seasons should give him a bit of clout in the Spartans rushing pantheon.