GREEN & WHITE FOOTBALL

'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 10

Lansing State Journal

Ever see a number on a Michigan State football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Today, we decided who was the best Spartan to ever wear the No. 10

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. 10 – Brad Van Pelt

Safety, 1970-72, Owosso

Owosso native Brad Van Pelt was a two-time All-American at Michigan State and went on to star with the New York Giants in the NFL, playing in five Pro Bowls.

Résumé

1970: N/A

1971: 92 hits, 4 interceptions, 2 touchdowns

1972: 84 hits, 4 interceptions

Total: 256 tackles, 14 interceptions

Why Van Pelt?

They don’t just put your name on a stadium for nothing.

A “modern-day Jim Thorpe,” according to former teammate Joe DeLamielleure, Brad Van Pelt was known as a freakishly talented athlete, standing 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. From his strong safety position, Van Pelt picked off 14 passes during his three-year career in East Lansing, still the second-best mark in program history. The Owosso native earned All-American status during his final two seasons at Michigan State and became the first defensive back in NCAA history to win the Maxwell Award, given to college football’s most outstanding player.

Van Pelt was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 and, the following year, the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2010, his name was added to the school’s “Ring of Fame” at Spartan Stadium.

He wasn’t just a standout football player, either. Van Pelt played for Gus Ganakas’ Spartans basketball squad and pitched for the baseball team. He was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft. He played 14 seasons and was named All-Pro five times. He also was named Giants’ player of the decade for the 1970s.

Michigan running back Clarence Williams was able to spin out of this tackle attempt by MSU's Ray Hill for a first down run Saturday.

Who else wore No. 10?

Aaron Alexander (WR, 2003-04), James Blenkhorn (HB/FB, 1946-49), Anthony Folino (FS, 1994), Thomas Graves (DB, 1974-78), Ray Hill (CB, 1995-97), John Langeloh (K, 1987-90), Terrance Lewis (CB, 1981-84), Myron Masny (G, 1938), Andrew Maxwell (QB, 2010-13), Roy Montford (End, 1910), Matt Morrissey (S-current), Ubold Noblett (HB, 1919-21), Chris Norman (LB, 2009-12), Clarence Ramsey (T, 1916-19), Bill Stoyanovich (K, 1992-93)

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

MORE ON BRAD VAN PELT:
* MSU's top 50 football players: No. 9 Brad Van Pelt
* Spartifacts: Brad Van Pelt
* MSU Football legend Brad Van Pelt passes away at age 57