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It's time to bring back the elite rushing attack to Michigan State football

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State running back Nathan Carter (5) celebrates his 31-yard run on the first offensive play of the season against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Michigan State running back Nathan Carter (5) celebrates his 31-yard run on the first offensive play of the season against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Over the past two decades, there's been one common factor that has made Michigan State football successful: an elite rushing attack.

You take a look at the seasons in which Michigan State had an elite rushing attack and they coincide with Big Ten titles as well as double-digit win seasons. When Michigan State has an elite rushing attack, it's one of the best teams in the Big Ten and even the country.

Sure, having plus quarterback play is important because we have seen elite rushing with mediocre quarterback play such as during the 2012 season when Andrew Maxwell struggled and Le'Veon Bell put the offense on his back, but those instances are rare. Usuaully when the run game is at its best, the quarterbacks benefit from it. That 2012 season was an anomaly.

Looking at all of the successful Michigan State seasons over the past 15, or so, years, there has been a dangerous run game in charge of the offense.

In Mark Dantonio's first "successful" season in 2008, he had Javon Ringer as a serious Heisman candidate. In 2010, Edwin Baker ran for over 1,200 yards and he was backed up by Le'Veon Bell. In 2011, Bell had about 1,000 yards and Baker was approaching 700. In 2013, Jeremy Langford had over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2014, Michigan State had one of the top rushing attacks in the nation with Langford leading the way with 1,522 yards and 22 touchdowns. In 2015, the Spartans had a three-headed attack with LJ Scott, Gerald Holmes, and Madre London.

The 2017 season was another outlier as LJ Scott approached 900 yards but Brian Lewerke was the team's second-leading rusher.

And finally, in 2021, Kenneth Walker III won the Doak Walker Award and the Spartans won 11 games, including the Peach Bowl over former defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and Pitt.

So all of this is just proving one point: Michigan State needs an elite run game to be successful.

Fortunately for the Spartans, the offensive line looks to be one of the most improve position groups on the roster for the 2024 season and Nate Carter and Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams could both realistically be 1,000-yard candidates. This backfield is going to excel in 2024, but will the team flourish because of it?

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