'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 9

Ever see a number on a Michigan State football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Me, too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Spartan football player was the best ever to wear each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at MSU? And what kind of impact did he have on the program? 

No. 9 – Jeff Smoker

Quarterback, 2000-03, Manheim, Pennsylvania

Résumé

2000: 103-197 passing, 52.3 completion percentage, 1,365 yards, 6 touchdowns, 7 interceptions

2001: 166-262 passing, 63.4 completion percentage, 2,579 yards, 21 touchdowns, 8 interceptions

2002: 114-203 passing, 56.2 completion percentage, 1,593 yards, 13 touchdowns, 10 interceptions

2003: 302-488 passing, 61.9 completion percentage, 3,395 yards, 21 touchdowns, 14 interceptions

Total: 685-1150 passing, 59.6 completion percentage, 8,932 yards, 61 touchdowns, 39 interceptions

Why Smoker?

Jeff Smoker was dynamic. The duo of Smoker and wide receiver Charles Rogers is one of the top pass-catch combos in program history. Remember the 40-foot murals of them hanging on the south side of Spartan Stadium? It said, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” which later turned into a punchline because of controlled substance issues for both players. How about the “Clockgate” game in 2001? Remember Smoker connecting with TJ Duckett with one second remaining on the clock to beat Michigan? Good stuff.

Aside from a five-game suspension at the end of the 2002 season, Smoker was one of the best signal callers in MSU history. Makes you wonder what could have been, huh?

Still, the numbers are impressive. In 41 career games, Smoker amassed 8,932 yards, which is the third highest mark in school history. His 21 wins are also good enough for third on the all-time list, and so are his 37 career starts. Smoker threw 61 touchdown passes at MSU, falling behind only Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook. In 2003, Smoker set the standard at MSU with 3,395 yards passing.

Smoker finished with a 1-3 mark against rival Michigan, but flipped that record against Notre Dame. As a freshman, Smoker completed 12-of-24 passes for 181 yards against the Irish. With 1:58 to play and the Spartans facing a fourth-and-10, Smoker connected on a 68-yard touchdown pass to Herb Haygood to lift MSU to a 27-21 win over the 16th-ranked team in the nation. It was one of three game-winning drives for Smoker that season.

Smoker led the Spartans to two bowl games, including a 44-35 win over Fresno State in the  2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic where he threw for 376 yards, 270 of which landed in the hands of Rogers.

(CORRECTION: In the original version of this story, it stated that Smoker was suspended for the first five games of the 2002 season and did not play against Notre Dame that year. He was suspended for the last five and did play against the Irish, a 21-17 loss at Spartan Stadium. The LSJ regrets this error.)

Who else wore No. 9?

Harold Archbold (HB/QB, 1921), Donnie Corley (WR/CB, 2016), Otis Grant (QB/FL, 1980-82), Isaiah Lewis (S, 2010-13), Walter Lueck (G, 1936-37), Tony Manley (CB, 1984), Albert McClelland (HB, 1916), Montae Nicholson (S, 2014-16), Dominique Long (S, current) Jeffrey Paterra (DB, 1986), Stephen Reaves (QB, 2004), Kenneth Robinson (DB, 1977), Todd Schultz (QB, 1995-97), Mark Sokoll (DB, 1970), Jeremy Ware (CB, 2008-09), Desmond Williams (CB, 2005-06), Aric Morris (S, 1996-99)

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

MORE ON JEFF SMOKER:
* MSU's biggest 'what if' now South Lyon assistant
* Mapping past recruiting fallout from MSU, Michigan coaching changes
* Reliving some of Michigan State football's top moments vs. Michigan
* Smoker becomes latest QB to battle substance abuse
* VIDEO: 'Clockgate'