ESPN’s latest jersey-number rankings put several Michigan State greats in the spotlight, with Bubba Smith leading the way as the best college football player ever to wear No. 95.
Smith’s case is a strong one. The late Spartan legend is the only No. 1 overall draft pick in program history, he was a two-time All-American, and he played a major role in Michigan State’s two national championships.
During his sophomore and junior seasons, the Spartans went 19-1-1 combined. The lone defeat in that stretch came in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1966, against UCLA, though Michigan State still finished atop the Coaches’ Poll.
The following year, the Spartans went 9-0-1, tied Notre Dame in the “Game of the Century,” and split the title with the Irish.
Michigan State also had several other names show up as honorable mentions or “considered” picks on ESPN’s list of the best players to wear each number from 0 through 99.
John Pingel, who wore No. 37 for the Spartans from 1936-38, was among those considered. Pingel became an All-American and went seventh overall in the 1939 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions.
He was a true do-it-all player for Michigan State, once holding the record for most punt yards in a season with 4,138 in 1938, a mark that stood for 85 years until Iowa’s Tory Taylor broke it in 2023. Pingel could run and throw, too, the kind of all-purpose star more common before the platoon system changed football.
ESPN gave the No. 37 honor to SMU’s Doak Walker.
Tony Mandarich was also considered for one of the top spots on the list. The offensive tackle was a force for Michigan State, earning Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in both 1987 and 1988 and being named a unanimous All-American in 1988.
He was selected second overall in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. ESPN picked Nebraska’s Rich Glover as the best No. 79 ever.
Another Spartan from the celebrated mid-1960s teams, George Webster, was recognized as one of the best to ever wear No. 90.
Webster was a consensus All-American in 1965 and a unanimous All-American in 1966, helping Michigan State win those two national titles. His No. 90 is retired in East Lansing, but ESPN named Washington’s Steve Emtman as the top player to wear it.
Webster also shares a notable place in Michigan State history with Bubba Smith in the 1967 NFL Draft class. Four of the top eight picks that year came from Michigan State, with Clint Jones going second overall, Webster fifth and Gene Washington eighth.
In Other News...
Frankie Fidler Gets Another NBA Shot After His Michigan State Year
Frankie Fidler is getting another crack at the NBA after his lone season at Michigan State, this time with the Portland Trail Blazers Summer League roster. The former Spartan wing spent the past year playing professionally in Latvia, where his scoring punch stood out far more than it did during his one season in East Lansing, and now he gets a fresh stage to show he belongs against NBA-caliber competition.
For Fidler, the timing matters because Summer League is often where overlooked players can turn a good summer into a real opportunity. He will be on the floor with and against several familiar Spartan names as Portlands schedule rolls on, including a July 12 meeting with Orlando, and the next step is clear enough: make enough noise to put his name in the conversation for his first NBA contract. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Fears Just Weighed In On Tom Izzo's Future At MSU
Tom Izzo is heading into his 32nd season at Michigan State, and the conversation around his future is starting to sound a little different when it comes from one of the Spartans own. Jeremy Fears Jr. said he expects Izzo to be around for a while, a vote of confidence that carries some weight from an All-American point guard who has seen up close how the program operates and why players keep buying in.
Fears also made his own future clear by choosing to return to East Lansing, giving Michigan State another major piece in a roster that already has plenty of momentum. He pointed to the mix of returning talent and a strong locker-room environment as reasons the Spartans can chase a national championship, and for a team built around Izzos standard, that kind of belief from a lead guard matters. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State's Leadership Mess Just Keeps Getting More Awkward
The leadership shuffle around Michigan State has turned into a drawn-out waiting game, with Kevin Guskiewicz and J Batt both still on campus even after being announced elsewhere weeks ago. Guskiewicz was named Clemsons next president more than a month ago, while Batt was tabbed as Kentuckys new athletic director about three weeks ago, yet neither move has actually taken effect.
Part of the delay comes from the fine print. Guskiewiczs contract gives him six months notice before he has to depart, which could push his exit well into the fall, and Batts arrangement includes a buyout clause tied to Guskiewiczs status. The result is an awkward overlap for Michigan State, where the top two leadership roles are in limbo at the same time and the timeline for any clean handoff still feels murky. [Read more 🡒]