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    Turning Back the Clock: Michigan State Spartans RB Javon Ringer was a Once-In-a-Decade Talent

    Ringer was Arguably the Nation's Best Back During 2008, His Senior Season at MSU

    By | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Mon, Jul 2, 2012 9:51 PM EDT

    COMMENTARY| Speed, power and explosiveness all packed into a 5-foot-9, 202-pound frame -- that was former Michigan State Spartans star running back Javon Ringer.

    It seems just like yesterday that Ringer was breaking tackles, running for much larger gains than appeared possible and making it look almost effortless while doing so. To the older generation, Lorenzo White is considered the Spartans' greatest runner. However, there is a strong case for Ringer, who in 2008 led the nation with 22 touchdowns. He was unstoppable, rushing for 1,637 yards on 390 carries, which were the most of any back that season.

    As a senior, Ringer was fourth in rushing en route to consideration for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top back. The All-Big Ten selection earned Associated Press honors too, becoming the first Michigan State running back to achieve such esteem since White did in 1985.

    Ringer's senior accolades, obtained from the official Michigan State web site:

    2008 HONORS & ACCOLADES:

    • ASSOCIATED PRESS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

    • WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICAN

    • DOAK WALKER AWARD FINALIST

    • CONSENSUS FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN SELECTION

    • MAXWELL/WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALIST

    • RANKED FIRST IN THE NATION IN SCORING, TOUCHDOWNS AND CARRIES

    • RANKED FOURTH IN THE NATION AND SECOND IN BIG TEN IN RUSHING

    • LED BIG TEN IN ALL-PURPOSE YARDS, SCORING AND TOUCHDOWNS

    It was a rainy, muddy Saturday in 2008, but that didn't stop Ringer from piling 252 yards in Michigan State's 17-0 win over Florida Atlantic. He followed that incredible performance with 201 yards in a 23-7 win over Notre Dame, and was just two yards shy of 200 the next week in a 42-29 win over Indiana. And later, in October, Ringer drove the Michigan Wolverines crazy, racking up 194 yards in the Spartans' resounding 35-21 victory at The Big House.

    There aren't enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe how exciting Ringer was to watch. Unheralded and overlooked, Ringer didn't get the recognition that he deserved. His junior year was spectacular, too.

    Now with the Tennessee Titans, Ringer is behind Chris Johnson, one of the NFL's best. He doesn't see much action, but the ardent Spartans followers can fondly reflect on Ringer's contribution to Michigan State football. He was one of the players that I'd credit for ushering in a new attitude, one that is alive and well among the players in coach Mark Dantonio's program.

    Below is a list of career leaders at Michigan State obtained from the official Spartans web site. Ringer is second in career rushing yards. However, had he had the amount of carries White had, Ringer could have ended up the Spartans' all-time leader. 

      1. 4887 - Lorenzo White (1082-4887) - 1984-87
  2. 4398 - Javon Ringer (843-4398) - 2005-08
  3. 4212 - Tico Duckett (836-4212) - 1989-92
  4. 3749 - Blake Ezor (800-3749) - 1986-89
  5. 3504 - Sedrick Irvin (755-3504) - 1996-98
  6. 3379 - T.J. Duckett (621-3379) - 1999-01
  7. 2848 - D. Goulbourne (627-2848) - 1992-94,96
  8. 2676 - Steve Smith (524-2676) - 1977-80
  9. 2654 - Eric Allen (521-2654) - 1969-71
 10. 2395 - J. Caulcrick (532-2395) - 2003-07
 11. 2331 - Marc Renaud (451-2331) - 1994-95,97
 12. 2293 - Edwin Baker (462-2293) - 2009-11
 13. 2287 - Levi Jackson (474-2287) - 1973-76
 14. 2234 - Rich Baes (507-2234) - 1973-76
 15. 2103 - Lynn Chandnois (321-2103) - 1946-49
 16. 1921 - Clinton Jones (396-1921) - 1964-66
 17. 1906 - Hyland Hickson (384-1906) - 1988-90
 18. 1823 - Craig Thomas (362-1823) - 1990-93
 19. 1721 - George Guerre (255-1721) - 1946-48
 20. 1706 - C. Baggett (406-1706) - 1973-75
    Rushing attempts 
      1. 1082 - Lorenzo White (1082-4887) - 1984-87
  2. 843 - Javon Ringer (843-4398) - 2005-08
  3. 836 - Tico Duckett (836-4212) - 1989-92
  4. 800 - Blake Ezor (800-3749) - 1986-89
  5. 755 - Sedrick Irvin (755-3504) - 1996-98
  6. 627 - D. Goulbourne (627-2848) - 1992-94,96
  7. 621 - T.J. Duckett (621-3379) - 1999-01
  8. 532 - J. Caulcrick (532-2395) - 2003-07
  9. 524 - Steve Smith (524-2676) - 1977-80
 10. 521 - Eric Allen (521-2654) - 1969-71
 11. 507 - Rich Baes (507-2234) - 1973-76
 12. 474 - Levi Jackson (474-2287) - 1973-76
 13. 462 - Edwin Baker (462-2293) - 2009-11
 14. 451 - Marc Renaud (451-2331) - 1994-95,97
 15. 406 - C. Baggett (406-1706) - 1973-75
 16. 396 - Clinton Jones (396-1921) - 1964-66
 17. 384 - Hyland Hickson (384-1906) - 1988-90
 18. 362 - Craig Thomas (362-1823) - 1990-93
 19. 349 - Don Highsmith (349-1450) - 1967-69
 20. 332 - Drew Stanton (332-1512) - 2002-06
    Rushing TDs 
      1. 43 - Lorenzo White - 1984-87
  2. 39 - J. Caulcrick - 2003-07
  3. 35 - Sedrick Irvin - 1996-98
  4. 34 - Blake Ezor - 1986-89
     34 - Javon Ringer - 2005-08
  6. 29 - T.J. Duckett - 1999-01
  7. 28 - Lynn Chandnois - 1946-49
     28 - Eric Allen - 1969-71
  9. 26 - Tico Duckett - 1989-92
 10. 25 - Craig Thomas - 1990-93
 11. 23 - LeRoy Bolden - 1951-54
     23 - D. Goulbourne - 1992-94,96
 13. 21 - C. Baggett - 1973-75
     21 - Steve Smith - 1977-80
     21 - Le'Veon Bell - 2009-11
 16. 20 - Clinton Jones - 1964-66
     20 - Rich Baes - 1973-76
 18. 19 - Edwin Baker - 2009-11
     19 - Scott Greene - 1992-95
     19 - Hyland Hickson - 1988-90
     19 - E. Grandelius - 1948-50

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