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Michigan State’s All-Mark Dantonio Team

In honor of Mark Dantonio becoming Michigan State’s winningest coach, let’s take a second to shoutout the players that got him there.

Offense

QB: Kirk Cousins

Honorable mention: Connor Cook

This was a tough call. Cousins was the better QB, Cook led MSU to the highest of highs.

RB: Javon Ringer

Honorable mention: Jeremy Langford, Le’Veon Bell

Javon Ringer was the last legit Heisman candidate for the Spartans. Jeremy Langford was spectacular. Le’Veon Bell was a freak athlete who dragged the offense kicking and screaming to a bowl in 2012.

FB: Trevon Pendleton

The biggest touchdown of his career came in 2015 against Ohio State.

WR: Aaron Burbridge

WR: Keyshawn Martin

Honorable mentions: Tony Lippett, RJ Shelton, Felton Davis III.

Tons of pretty good receivers throughout his tenure. Burb was the best of the bunch. Keyshawn Martin is one of the most exciting players in MSU history. Tony Lippett was a monster. FD3 went hogwild on 50/50 balls, “catch radius of one mile” -Zach Beavers, MSU & Kenny Goins super fan. He’s also a terrific golfer!

TE: Charlie Gantt

Honorable mentions: Brian Linthicum, Josiah Price

Gantt will always be a legend for his game-winning touchdown against Notre Dame in 2010.

LT: Jack Conklin

LG: Travis Jackson

C: Jack Allen

RG: Dan France

RT: Fou Fonoti

Honorable mention: Blake Treadwell

The unit that paved the way for Jeremy Langford to lead the Big Ten in rushing in 2013. Followed it up with a pretty great 2014.

Defense

CB: Darqueze Dennard

CB: Chris L. Rucker

Honorable mentions: Trae Waynes, Justin Layne

Very difficult to separate these four. Dennard is the best tackling corner I’ve seen at the collegiate level. Chris L. Rucker gets lost in conversation, but I can’t understate just how good he was.

S: Kurtis Drummond

S: Andrew Dowell

Honorable mention: Isaiah Lewis

In a few years Xavier Henderson could be remembered as the best safety to ever play for Mark Dantonio. But as it stands, Drummond & Lewis were a nightmare for opposing offenses. Usually you don’t want a safety staring down a running back screaming through the scrum, but with Lewis it was the other way around. That guy could bring it.

OLB: Denicos Allen

MLB: Greg Jones

OLB: Taiwan Jones

Honorable mentions: Max Bullough, Joe Bachie, Riley Bullough, Eric Gordon, Ed Davis

It feels like millions of great linebackers have played for MSU. I’ll always wonder what could have been for Ed Davis. Like Henderson at safety, Bachie could end up being Dantonio’s finest linebacker, if he isn’t already.

DE: William Gholston

DE: Marcus Rush

Honorable mentions: Kenny Willikes, Shilique Calhoun

Shilique Calhoun had a magical start to 2013 that saw him shove his way into the September Heisman conversation. William “Too Tall” Gholston was a monster. I legitimately thought he killed Aaron Murray at the 2012 Outback Bowl. Marcus Rush is the most under-appreciated Spartan of all time.

DT: Jerel Worthy

DT: Tyler Hoover

Honorable mentions: Big Lawrence Thomas, Micajah Reynolds, Raequan Williams

That 2013 interior of Big LT, Tyler Hoover & Reynolds paved the way for Max Bullough to make a million tackles. Jerel Worthy looked like the best DT in college football at times.

Specialists

K: Michael Geiger

P: Mike Sadler

Returner: Keyshawn Martin

Honorable mentions: K Dan Conroy, P Rocky Lombardi, WR Brandon Sowards

Michael Geiger windmilled his way across the turf at Ohio Stadium and into our hearts forever.

Mike Sadler was someone that everyone could aspire to be. He won over the hearts of not only Spartans, but college football fans everywhere. His passing is something I think about a lot. He meant so much to this community. He was really, really good at punting footballs too. I always forget this but he punted lefty. That’s so crazy to me.

Recap

There’s tons of players from the 2013-2015 seasons, and for good reason. Those are three of the best teams in Michigan State history. While he isn’t the most talented back of the Dantonio era, Jeremy Langford was the perfect running back for every situation. For a three-year period, there weren’t many issues on the offensive line. The 2013 defense was Mark Dantonio’s best.

The recent defensive dominance has given us a new generation of players to enjoy. The Panasiuk Brothers, the Dowell Brothers, Joe Bachie, Josiah Scott, Justin Layne, Raequan Williams… the list goes on and on.

Even on offense there are some studs. Darrell Stewart and Cody White are a ton of fun to watch when the offense is rolling. Felton Davis III was amazing before his injury.

Who did I miss? Comment your favorite player from the Mark Dantonio era and your favorite Bell’s brew!!!

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