'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 71

Lansing State Journal

Dejected MSU offensive lineman Gordon Niebylski walks off the field at Spartan Stadium in the rain after Saturday's MSU loss to Michigan.

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. 71 – Otto Smith

Linebacker/ Defensive end, 1973-76, Columbia, S.C.,

Otto Smith, who mostly played defensive end at Michigan State, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in ’74, racking up 114 total tackles and a career-best 12 tackles for loss.

Résumé

1973: 25 solo tackles, 29 assisted, 54 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries

1974: 65 solo tackles, 49 assisted, 114 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, fumble recovery

1975: 1 solo tackles, 1 assisted, 2 total tackles (season-ending knee injury)

1976: 43 solo tackles, 48 assisted, 91 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss

Total: 134 solo tackles, 127 assisted, 261 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries

Why Smith?

The biggest team highlight of Otto Smith’s four-year career came in 1974 against Ohio State.

The following year, the meeting with the Buckeyes provided a career-threatening result.

Smith, who mostly played defensive end at Michigan State, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in ’74, racking up 114 total tackles and a career-best 12 tackles for loss. He was a force on the defensive line alongside Greg Shaum and James Taubert.

Entering the Week 9 showdown at 4-3-1, the Spartans needed an upset win over top-ranked OSU to stay alive in the conference race. Thanks to a late 88-yard touchdown scamper by Levi Jackson and a controversial final play that left Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes standing at the MSU goal line with no time left on the clock, the Spartans pulled off the miracle, winning 16-13. The East Lansing faithful tore down the goal posts and madness ensued.

A LOOK BACK AT NUMBERS 1-70

If not for a 21-21 tie against Illinois, MSU would’ve played in the Rose Bowl. Instead, the tiebreaker went to the Buckeyes after a win over Michigan in the final game of the season.

The following season wasn’t as kind to Smith.

Following his breakout sophomore season, Smith suffered a season-ending knee injury during a 21-0 loss in the opener in Columbus. He finished the season with two tackles.

Smith returned to the field during his senior season and the numbers returned, too. He amassed 91 tackles and six tackles for loss. Unfortunately, the Spartans only managed to finish 4-6-1 overall.

Smith earned All-Big Ten honorable mentions in his freshman and senior seasons. Makes you wonder where Smith would’ve landed in the history books if not for that one lost season of 1975.

Patrick Burke deserves an honorable mention here at No. 71. Burke, who played offensive tackle for the Spartans from 1955-57, was named a team captain before his senior season and responded by being named first-team All-Big Ten. Shaun Mason also gets a nod for being a four-year starter, earning a conference honorable mention in 2000.

MSU players including Gordon Niebylski, left, celebrate MSU's last-second vi ctory over Michigan Saturday night.

Who else wore No. 71?

Kevin Boron (DE, 1992), Chris Bunbury (OT, 1977), Patrick Burke (T, 1955-57), John Deyo (OL, 2009-11), Chase Gianacakos (OG, 2016), David Manders (C, 1959-61), Marvin Mantos (OG, 1979-82), Shaun Mason (OG, 1997-2000), Richard Massuch (T/E, 1944-45), Victor Mittelberg (OT, 1969-70), Morley Murphy (T, 1952-54), Gordon Niebylski (OL, 2002-05), Kevin Robbins (OT, 1987-88), Douglas Rogers (DT/OL, 1983-86), Kenny Shane (OG, 2006-07), Deane Thomas (G, 1950), Edward Youngs (T/C, 1961-63)

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

MORE ON OTTO SMITH:
* MSU-Ohio State 1974: Spartans, Buckeyes relive the chaos