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The Michigan State Spartans football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Michigan State Spartans football program in various categories,[1] including passing , rushing , total offense , receiving , defensive stats, and kicking . 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.[2] 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.
These lists are updated through the end of the 2016 season .
Passing
Passing yards
Career
Rank
Player
Yards
Years
1
Connor Cook
9,194[3]
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[4]
2016 2017 2018 2019
5
Drew Stanton
6,524
2003 2004 2005 2006
6
Brian Hoyer
6,159
2005 2006 2007 2008
7
Dave Yarema
5,809
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
8
Ed Smith
5,706
1976 1977 1978
9
Bill Burke
5,463
1996 1997 1998 1999
10
Jim Miller
5,037
1990 1991 1992 1993
Single-Season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Jeff Smoker
3,395
2003
2
Kirk Cousins
3,316
2011
3
Connor Cook
3,214
2014
4
Connor Cook
3,131[3]
2015
5
Brian Lewerke
3,079[4]
2019
6
Drew Stanton
3,077
2005
7
Kirk Cousins
2,825
2010
8
Brian Lewerke
2,793[4]
2017
9
Connor Cook
2,755
2013
10
Brian Hoyer
2,725
2007
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[5]
2015
Indiana
5
Jeff Smoker
376
2001
Fresno State
6
Ed Smith
369
1978
Indiana
7
Connor Cook
367[6]
2015
Rutgers
8
Jim Miller
360
1993
Ohio State
9
Connor Cook
358
2014
Ohio State
10
Jeff Smoker
357
2003
Penn State
Passing touchdowns
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
Lorenzo White
1,572
1987
5
Jeremy Langford
1,522
2014
6
Blake Ezor
1,496
1988
7
Eric Allen
1,494
1971
8
Javon Ringer
1,447
2007
9
Jeremy Langford
1,422
2013
10
T. J. Duckett
1,420
2001
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
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[9]
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
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[14]
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
Brian Hoyer
5,930
2005 2006 2007 2008
6
Ed Smith
5,556
1976 1977 1978
7
Brian Lewerke
5,284
2016 2017 2018
7
Dave Yarema
5,269
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
8
Bill Burke
4,934
1996 1997 1998 1999
9
Lorenzo White
4,887
1984 1985 1986 1987
Single season
Rank
Player
Yards
Year
1
Drew Stanton
3,415
2005
2
Brian Lewerke
3,357
2017
3
Connor Cook
3,294
2014
4
Jeff Smoker
3,279
2003
5
Kirk Cousins
3,277
2011
6
Connor Cook
3,187
2015
7
Connor Cook
2,831
2013
8
Kirk Cousins
2,740
2009
9
Kirk Cousins
2,689
2010
10
Brian Hoyer
2,620
2007
Total touchdowns
Single game
Rank
Player
TDs
Year
Opponent
1
Blake Ezor
6
1989
Northwestern
Defense
Interceptions
Single Game
Rank
Player
Ints
Year
Opponent
1
John Miller
4
1987
Michigan
Tackles
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
Kicking
Field goals made
Field goal percentage
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold