Michigan State Spartans football statistical leaders

The Michigan State Spartans football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Michigan State Spartans football program in various categories,^[1][2] including passing, rushing, total offense, receiving, defensive stats, kicking, and scoring. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, Single season and career leaders. The Spartans represent Michigan State University in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.

Although Michigan State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1896,^[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1945. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.

These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:

• Since 1945, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
• The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
• Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.^[3] The Spartans have played in 10 bowl games since then.
• Similarly, the Spartans have played in the Big Ten Championship Game three times since it began in 2011, so players in those seasons had 14 games to accumulate statistics.
• Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not be counted against any football player's athletic eligibility, giving players active in that season five years of eligibility instead of the standard four.

These lists are updated through Michigan State's game against Ohio State on November 20, 2021.

Passing

Passing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Connor Cook 9,194 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Kirk Cousins 9,131 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Jeff Smoker 8,932 2000 2001 2002 2003 4 Brian Lewerke 8,293 2016 2017 2018 2019 5 Drew Stanton 6,524 2003 2004 2005 2006 6 Payton Thorne 6,501[4] 2020 2021 2022 7 Brian Hoyer 6,159 2005 2006 2007 2008 8 Dave Yarema 5,809 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 9 Ed Smith 5,706 1976 1977 1978 10 Bill Burke 5,463 1996 1997 1998 1999

Single-Season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Jeff Smoker 3,395 2003 2 Kirk Cousins 3,316 2011 3 Payton Thorne 3,240[4] 2021 4 Connor Cook 3,214 2014 5 Connor Cook 3,131 2015 6 Brian Lewerke 3,079 2019 7 Drew Stanton 3,077 2005 8 Kirk Cousins 2,825 2010 9 Brian Lewerke 2,793 2017 10 Connor Cook 2,755 2013

Single Game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Brian Lewerke 445 2017 Northwestern 2 Bill Burke 400 1999 Michigan Brian Lewerke 400 2017 Penn State 4 Connor Cook 398 2015 Indiana 5 Jeff Smoker 376 2001 Fresno State 6 Ed Smith 369 1978 Indiana 7 Connor Cook 367 2015 Rutgers 8 Aidan Chiles 363[5] 2024 Maryland 9 Jim Miller 360 1993 Ohio State 10 Connor Cook 358 2014 Ohio State

Passing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Connor Cook 71 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Kirk Cousins 66 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Jeff Smoker 61 2000 2001 2002 2003 4 Payton Thorne 49[4] 2020 2021 2022 5 Brian Lewerke 47 2016 2017 2018 2019 6 Bill Burke 46 1996 1997 1998 1999 7 Dave Yarema 44 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 8 Ed Smith 43 1976 1977 1978 9 Drew Stanton 42 2003 2004 2005 2006 10 Brian Hoyer 35 2005 2006 2007 2008

Single-Season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Payton Thorne 27[4] 2021 2 Kirk Cousins 25 2011 3 Connor Cook 24 2014 Connor Cook 24 2015 5 Drew Stanton 22 2005 Connor Cook 22 2013 7 Jeff Smoker 21 2001 Jeff Smoker 21 2003 9 Ed Smith 20 1978 Bill Burke 20 1999 Brian Hoyer 20 2007 Kirk Cousins 20 2010 Brian Lewerke 20 2017

Single Game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Drew Stanton 5 2005 Illinois 2 Brian Lewerke 4 2017 Northwestern Mike Rasmussen 4 1970 Indiana Ed Smith 4 1978 Wisconsin Bill Burke 4 1998 Central Michigan Bill Burke 4 1999 Iowa Damon Dowdell 4 2002 Indiana Jeff Smoker 4 2003 Penn State Brian Hoyer 4 2007 Notre Dame Brian Hoyer 4 2007 Penn State Connor Cook 4 2013 Youngstown State Connor Cook 4 2015 Air Force Connor Cook 4 2015 Indiana Connor Cook 4 2015 Nebraska Payton Thorne 4[6] 2021 Youngstown State Payton Thorne 4[7] 2021 Miami (FL) Payton Thorne 4[8] 2021 Maryland Payton Thorne 4[9] 2022 Western Michigan

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Lorenzo White 4,887 1984 1985 1986 1987 2 Javon Ringer 4,398 2005 2006 2007 2008 3 Tico Duckett 4,212 1989 1990 1991 1992 4 Blake Ezor 3,749 1986 1987 1988 1989 5 Sedrick Irvin 3,504 1996 1997 1998 6 T. J. Duckett 3,379 1999 2000 2001 7 Le'Veon Bell 3,346 2010 2011 2012 8 Jeremy Langford 2,967 2012 2013 2014 9 Duane Goulbourne 2,848 1992 1993 1994 1996 10 LJ Scott 2,771 2015 2016 2017 2018

Single-Season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Lorenzo White 2,066 1985 2 Le'Veon Bell 1,793 2012 3 Javon Ringer 1,673 2008 4 Kenneth Walker III 1,636[10] 2021 5 Lorenzo White 1,572 1987 6 Jeremy Langford 1,522 2014 7 Blake Ezor 1,496 1988 8 Eric Allen 1,494 1971 9 Javon Ringer 1,447 2007 10 Jeremy Langford 1,422 2013

Single Game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Eric Allen 350 1971 Purdue 2 Lorenzo White 292 1987 Indiana 3 Lorenzo White 286 1985 Indiana 4 Javon Ringer 282 2008 Florida Atlantic 5 Clinton Jones 268 1966 Iowa 6 Le'Veon Bell 266 2012 Minnesota 7 Kenneth Walker III 264[11] 2021 Northwestern 8 Le'Veon Bell 253 2012 Eastern Michigan 9 Blake Ezor 250 1988 Indiana 10 T. J. Duckett 248 2000 Iowa

Rushing touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Lorenzo White 43 1984 1985 1986 1987 2 Jeremy Langford 40 2012 2013 2014 3 Jehuu Caulcrick 39 2004 2005 2006 2007 4 Sedrick Irvin 35 1996 1997 1998 5 Javon Ringer 34 2005 2006 2007 2008 Blake Ezor 34 1986 1987 1988 1989 7 Le'Veon Bell 33 2010 2011 2012 8 T. J. Duckett 29 1999 2000 2001 9 Eric Allen 28 1969 1970 1971 Lynn Chandnois 28 1946 1947 1948 1949

Single-Season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Javon Ringer 22 2008 Jeremy Langford 22 2014 3 Jehuu Caulcrick 21 2007 4 Blake Ezor 19 1989 5 Jeremy Langford 18 2013 Eric Allen 18 1971 Kenneth Walker III 18[10] 2021 8 Scott Greene 17 1995 Lorenzo White 17 1985 10 Sedrick Irvin 16 1996 Lorenzo White 16 1987

Single Game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Blake Ezor 6 1989 Northwestern 2 Javon Ringer 5 2008 Eastern Michigan Kenneth Walker III 5[12] 2021 Michigan

Receiving

Receptions

Career Rank Player Rec Years 1 B.J. Cunningham 218 2008 2009 2010 2011 2 Aaron Burbridge 165 2012 2013 2014 2015 3 Darrell Stewart Jr. 150 2016 2017 2018 2019 4 Tony Lippett 149 2011 2012 2013 2014 5 Matt Trannon 148 2003 2004 2005 2006 6 Jayden Reed 147[13] 2020 2021 2022 7 Andre Rison 146 1985 1986 1987 1988 8 Cody White 143 2017 2018 2019 9 Courtney Hawkins 138 1988 1989 1990 1991 10 Charles Rogers 135 2001 2002

Single-Season Rank Player Rec Year 1 Aaron Burbridge 85 2015 2 B.J. Cunningham 79 2011 Devin Thomas 79 2007 4 Blair White 70 2009 5 Charles Rogers 68 2002 6 Charles Rogers 67 2001 7 Keshawn Martin 66 2011 Plaxico Burress 66 1999 Cody White 66 2019 10 Plaxico Burress 65 1998 Tony Lippett 65 2014

Single Game Rank Player Rec Year Opponent 1 Matt Trannon 14 2006 Eastern Michigan 2 Devin Thomas 13 2007 Indiana Plaxico Burress 13 2000 Florida 4 Felton Davis III 12 2017 Penn State B.J. Cunningham 12 2011 Notre Dame Blair White 12 2009 Northwestern Mitch Lyons 12 1992 Michigan 8 Kerry Reed 11 2006 Minnesota Josh Keur 11 1997 Northwestern Andre Rison 11 1986 Indiana Tony Lippett 11 2014 Oregon Jayden Reed 11 2020 Rutgers

Receiving yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 B.J. Cunningham 3,086 2008 2009 2010 2011 2 Andre Rison 2,992 1985 1986 1987 1988 3 Charles Rogers 2,821 2001 2002 4 Kirk Gibson 2,347 1975 1976 1977 1978 5 Tony Lippett 2,247 2011 2012 2013 2014 6 Courtney Hawkins 2,210 1988 1989 1990 1991 7 Aaron Burbridge 2,174 2012 2013 2014 2015 8 Plaxico Burress 2,155 1998 1999 9 Mark Dell 2,136 2007 2008 2009 2010 10 Gari Scott 2,095 1996 1997 1998 1999

Single-Season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Charles Rogers 1,470 2001 2 Charles Rogers 1,351 2002 3 B.J. Cunningham 1,306 2011 4 Devin Thomas 1,260 2007 5 Aaron Burbridge 1,258 2015 6 Tony Lippett 1,198 2014 7 Plaxico Burress 1,142 1999 8 Courtney Hawkins 1,080 1989 9 Jayden Reed 1,026[13] 2021 10 Plaxico Burress 1,013 1998

Single Game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Charles Rogers 270 2001 Fresno State 2 Plaxico Burress 255 1999 Michigan 3 Andre Rison 252 1989 Georgia 4 Jalen Nailor 221[14] 2021 Rutgers 5 Charles Rogers 206 2001 Wisconsin 6 Mark Dell 202 2008 California 7 Courtney Hawkins 197 1989 Minnesota 8 Andre Rison 196 1986 Indiana Ricky White 196 2020 Michigan 10 Nick Marsh 194[5] 2024 Maryland

Receiving touchdowns

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Charles Rogers 27 2001 2002 2 B.J. Cunningham 25 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Kirk Gibson 24 1975 1976 1977 1978 4 Josiah Price 21 2013 2014 2015 2016 5 Plaxico Burress 20 1998 1999 Andre Rison 20 1985 1986 1987 1988 7 Gari Scott 18 1996 1997 1998 1999 Jayden Reed 18[13] 2020 2021 2022 9 Gene Washington 16 1964 1965 1966 10 Eugene Boyd 15 1975 1976 1978 1979 Tony Lippett 15 2011 2012 2013 2014

Single-Season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Charles Rogers 14 2001 2 Charles Rogers 13 2002 3 B.J. Cunningham 12 2011 Plaxico Burress 12 1999 5 Tony Lippett 11 2014 6 Jayden Reed 10[13] 2021 7 B.J. Cunningham 9 2010 Blair White 9 2009 Felton Davis III 9 2017 10 Devin Thomas 8 2007 Plaxico Burress 8 1998 Andre Rison 8 1988 Bob Carey 8 1949

Total offense

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.^[15]

Total offense yards

Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Connor Cook 9,403 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Kirk Cousins 9,004 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Jeff Smoker 8,714 2000 2001 2002 2003 4 Drew Stanton 8,036 2003 2004 2005 2006 5 Payton Thorne 6,771[4] 2020 2021 2022 6 Brian Hoyer 5,930 2005 2006 2007 2008 7 Ed Smith 5,556 1976 1977 1978 8 Brian Lewerke 5,284 2016 2017 2018 9 Dave Yarema 5,269 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 10 Bill Burke 4,934 1996 1997 1998 1999

Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Payton Thorne 3,421[4] 2021 2 Drew Stanton 3,415 2005 3 Brian Lewerke 3,352 2017 4 Connor Cook 3,294 2014 5 Jeff Smoker 3,279 2003 6 Kirk Cousins 3,277 2011 7 Connor Cook 3,187 2015 8 Connor Cook 2,831 2013 9 Kirk Cousins 2,740 2009 10 Payton Thorne 2,721[4] 2022

Single game Rank Player Yards Year Opponent 1 Brian Lewerke 475 2017 Northwestern 2 Brian Lewerke 425 2017 Penn State 3 Connor Cook 416 2015 Indiana 4 Drew Stanton 410 2004 Minnesota 5 Drew Stanton 406 2004 Hawaii 6 Jeff Smoker 393 2001 Fresno State 7 Bill Burke 383 1999 Michigan 8 Drew Stanton 375 2005 Notre Dame 9 Aidan Chiles 374[5] 2024 Maryland 10 Connor Cook 373 2014 Ohio State

Touchdowns responsible for

"Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.

Michigan State's record book does not list single-game leaders in this category.

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Connor Cook 74 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Jeff Smoker 68 2000 2001 2002 2003 3 Kirk Cousins 67 2008 2009 2010 2011 4 Drew Stanton 57 2003 2004 2005 2006 5 Payton Thorne 55[4] 2020 2021 2022 6 Bill Burke 47 1996 1997 1998 1999 7 Dave Yarema 46 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 8 Ed Smith 45 1976 1977 1978 9 Lorenzo White 43 1984 1985 1986 1987 10 Jeremy Langford 40 2012 2013 2014

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Payton Thorne 31[4] 2021 2 Drew Stanton 26 2005 Connor Cook 26 2014 4 Kirk Cousins 25 2011 Brian Lewerke 25 2017 6 Jeff Smoker 24 2003 Connor Cook 24 2015 8 Jeff Smoker 23 2001 Connor Cook 23 2013 10 Javon Ringer 22 2008

Defense

Interceptions

Career Rank Player Ints Years 1 Lynn Chandnois 20 1946 1947 1948 1949 2 Todd Krumm 18 1984 1985 1986 1987 3 Phil Parker 16 1982 1983 1984 1985 4 Kurt Larson 14 1985 1986 1987 1988 John Miller 14 1985 1986 1987 1988 Brad Van Pelt 14 1970 1971 1972 7 Mark Anderson 12 1976 1977 1978 1979 Bill Simpson 12 1971 1972 1973 Jesse Thomas 12 1948 1949 1950 10 Johnny Adams 11 2008 2010 2011 2012

Single-Season Rank Player Ints Year 1 Todd Krumm 9 1987 2 Kurt Larson 8 1988 John Miller 8 1987 Jesse Thomas 8 1950 5 Demetrice Martin 7 1994 Phil Parker 7 1983 Lynn Chandnois 7 1949

Single Game Rank Player Ints Year Opponent 1 John Miller 4 1987 Michigan

Tackles

Career Rank Player Tackles Years 1 Dan Bass 541 1976 1977 1978 1979 2 Percy Snow 473 1986 1987 1988 1989 3 Greg Jones 465 2007 2008 2009 2010 4 Ike Reese 420 1994 1995 1996 1997 5 Josh Thornhill 395 1998 1999 2000 2001 6 Chuck Bullough 391 1988 1989 1990 1991 7 Ronald Stanley 368 2001 2002 2003 2004 8 Sorie Kanu 365 1995 1996 1997 1998 9 Aric Morris 350 1996 1997 1998 1999 10 Thomas Wright 346 1999 2000 2001 2002

Single-Season Rank Player Tackles Year 1 Chuck Bullough 175 1991 2 Percy Snow 172 1989 3 Chuck Bullough 164 1990 Percy Snow 164 1988 5 Dan Bass 160 1979 6 Shane Bullough 156 1985 7 Greg Jones 154 2009 8 Ty Hallock 144 1992 9 Ike Reese 137 1997 Jim Morrissey 137 1984

Single Game Rank Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 Dan Bass 32 1979 Ohio State 2 Don Law 28 1969 Ohio State 3 Dan Bass 24 1979 Notre Dame 4 Percy Snow 23 1989 Illinois 5 Ty Hallock 21 1992 Minnesota Shane Bullough 21 1985 Indiana Brad Van Pelt 21 1971 Notre Dame Doug Barr 21 1969 Ohio State Don Law 21 1967 Indiana

Sacks

Career Rank Player Sacks Years 1 Larry Bethea 33.0 1975 1976 1977 2 Shilique Calhoun 26.0 2012 2013 2014 2015 Kenny Willekes 26.0 2017 2018 2019 4 Julian Peterson 25.0 1998 1999 5 Travis Davis 24.0 1986 1987 1988 1989 Kelly Quinn 24.0 1982 1983 1984 1985 7 Robaire Smith 22.0 1997 1998 1999 8 Denicos Allen 19.5 2010 2011 2012 2013 9 Greg Jones 16.5 2007 2008 2009 2010 10 Jacub Panasiuk 16.0[16] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Single-Season Rank Player Sacks Year 1 Larry Bethea 16.0 1977 2 Julian Peterson 15.0 1999 3 Robaire Smith 12.0 1997 Travis Davis 12.0 1987 Kelly Quinn 12.0 1984 6 Denicos Allen 11.0 2011 7 Shilique Calhoun 10.5 2015 Kenny Willekes 10.5 2019 9 Jonal Saint-Dic 10.0 2007 Greg Taplin 10.0 2003 Julian Peterson 10.0 1998 Kelly Quinn 10.0 1983

Kicking

Field goals made

Career Rank Player FGs Years 1 Matt Coghlin 76[17] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Brett Swenson 71 2006 2007 2008 2009 3 Dave Rayner 62 2001 2002 2003 2004 4 John Langeloh 57 1987 1988 1989 1990 5 Michael Geiger 56 2013 2014 2015 2016 6 Dan Conroy 55 2009 2010 2011 2012 7 Chris Gardner 52 1994 1995 1996 1997 8 Paul Edinger 46 1996 1997 1998 1999 9 Morten Andersen 45 1978 1979 1980 1981 10 Hans Nielsen 44 1974 1975 1976 1977

Single season Rank Player FGs Year 1 Dan Conroy 23 2012 2 Paul Edinger 22 1998 Dave Rayner 22 2003 Dave Rayner 22 2004 Brett Swenson 22 2008 Matt Coghlin 22 2019 7 Paul Edinger 21 1999 8 Brett Swenson 19 2009 Jonathan Kim 19 2024 10 John Langeloh 18 1988 Matt Coghlin 18 2018

Single game Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Jonathan Kim 6 2024 Iowa 2 John Langeloh 5 1988 Wisconsin Paul Edinger 5 1998 Northwestern Paul Edinger 5 1998 Ohio State

Field goal percentage

Career Rank Player FG% Years 1 Jonathan Kim 82.1% 2023 2024 2 Paul Edinger 79.3% 1996 1997 1998 1999 3 Brett Swenson 78.0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 4 Dan Conroy 77.5% 2009 2010 2011 2012 5 Michael Geiger 73.7% 2013 2014 2015 2016 6 Matt Coghlin 73.1%[17] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Michael Geiger 93.8% 2013 2 Jonathan Kim 90.5% 2024 3 Brett Swenson 86.4% 2009 4 Paul Edinger 84.6% 1998 5 Matt Coghlin 81.8%[17] 2018 6 Paul Edinger 80.8% 1999 7 Michael Geiger 78.9% 2016 Matt Coghlin 78.9% 2017 9 Brett Swenson 78.6% 2008

Scoring

Michigan State's most recent record book (2021) does not break down leaders over any time frame (career, single-season, game) by type of score. Some leaders' breakdowns can be extrapolated from information included in the record book, or from other sources.

Total points

Career Rank Player Points Years 1 Matt Coghlin 382[17] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Brett Swenson 377 2006 2007 2008 2009 3 Michael Geiger 357 2013 2014 2015 2016 4 Dave Rayner 334 2001 2002 2003 2004 5 John Langeloh 308 1987 1988 1989 1990 6 Dan Conroy 283 2009 2010 2011 2012 7 Chris Gardner 281 1994 1995 1996 1997 8 Morten Andersen 261 1978 1979 1980 1981 9 Lorenzo White 258 1984 1985 1986 1987 10 Sedrick Irvin 252 1996 1997 1998 Jeremy Langford 252 2011 2012 2013 2014

Single season Rank Player Points Year 1 Javon Ringer 132 2008 Jeremy Langford 132 2014 3 Jehuu Caulcrick 126 2007 4 Michael Geiger 114 2014 5 Jeremy Langford 114 2013 Blake Ezor 114 1989 Kenneth Walker III 114[10] 2021 8 Scott Greene 112 1995 9 Eric Allen 110 1971 10 Sedrick Irvin 108 1996

Single game Rank Player Points Year Opponent 1 Blake Ezor 36 1989 Northwestern 2 Javon Ringer 30 2008 Eastern Michigan Kenneth Walker III 30[12] 2021 Michigan 4 Scott Greene 26 1995 Illinois 5 17 times 24 Most recent: Kenneth Walker III, 2021 vs. Northwestern

Total touchdowns

These lists include touchdowns scored by each individual player, thus including rushing, receiving, and return touchdowns but not passing touchdowns. Michigan State does not break down its lists of total touchdown leaders by type of play.

Career Rank Player TDs Years 1 Lorenzo White 43 1984 1985 1986 1987 2 Sedrick Irvin 42 1996 1997 1998 Jeremy Langford 42 2011 2012 2013 2014 4 Jehuu Caulcrick 40 2004 2005 2006 2007 5 Javon Ringer 35 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Blake Ezor 34 1986 1987 1988 1989 Le'Veon Bell 34 2010 2011 2012 8 Lynn Chandnois 31 1946 1947 1948 1949 9 Eric Allen 30 1969 1970 1971 T. J. Duckett 30 1999 2000 2001

Single season Rank Player TDs Year 1 Javon Ringer 22 2008 Jeremy Langford 22 2014 3 Jehuu Caulcrick 21 2007 4 Blake Ezor 19 1989 Jeremy Langford 19 2013 Kenneth Walker III 19[10] 2021 7 Eric Allen 18 1971 Scott Greene 18 1995 Sedrick Irvin 18 1996 10 Lorenzo White 17 1985 Lorenzo White 16 1987 Charles Rogers 16 2001

Single game Rank Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Blake Ezor 6 1989 Northwestern 2 Javon Ringer 5 2008 Eastern Michigan Kenneth Walker III 5[12] 2021 Michigan 4 19 times 4 Most recent: Kenneth Walker III, 2021 vs. Northwestern