The running back position has been one of the most important at Michigan State for decades. The Spartans have had some legendary running backs come through the program from Lorenzo White to TJ Duckett to Kenneth Walker III. Pat Fitzgerald has an important hire to make at running backs coach in order to get the position back to where it belongs.
One Spartan legend is willing to take that pressure on his shoulders.
Shortly after it was reported that Keith Bhonapha would not be back at Michigan State on Fitzgerald's staff, a Michigan State legend lobbied for himself to be the next running backs coach.
Sedrick Irvin responded to the news with "I'm available".
I’m available if we need a rb coach seriously
— Coach Sedrick Irvin (@CoachIrvin) December 13, 2025
Not many running backs have been able to do what Irvin did at Michigan State, which is record three straight 1,000-yard seasons before leaving for the NFL. Irvin had over 1,000 in each of his three Michigan State seasons, and he finished his career with a total of 3,414 yards and 35 touchdowns and he got to play under Nick Saban.
It's fair to say that he probably learned a thing or two from Saban during his time in East Lansing.
Irvin was then drafted in the fourth round in 1999 by the Detroit Lions where he played two seasons and had a total of 182 yards and four touchdowns on 4.0 yards per carry. He came in a year after Barry Sanders retired and was never able to carve out a long NFL career like many expected.
Now, he's looking to return home.
Michigan State has a history of elite RB play
I doubt Fitzgerald is going to see a random tweet from Irvin and think "oh, this is exactly what I needed", but I wouldn't be shocked if Sedrick reached out to the new head coach to volunteer his services. There has been no indication of who the next running backs coach will be.
Whoever it is must do what Jonathan Smith failed to do -- and Mel Tucker, too, in his final two years in East Lansing -- which is develop running backs into NFL prospects.
Kenneth Walker III was obviously Tucker's proudest accomplishment, but outside of him, Michigan State hasn't had an elite running back in about a decade. Nate Carter had his moments, LJ Scott was hit-or-miss, and Elijah Collins fizzled out and then transferred. It's up to the next coach to get Michigan State's running back room back to the top of the Big Ten.
We need to see more Ducketts, Le'Veon Bells, Irvins, and Jeremy Langfords in East Lansing, manning Michigan State's backfield.
Could Sedrick "Swervin" Irvin be the guy to get the job done?