Best Michigan State football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Lorenzo White to Charles Rogers

Percy Snow, linebacker

Percy Snow came to Michigan State in a down period for the Spartans. They had just won 30 games in the previous six seasons and hadn’t won an actual bowl game since the Rose Bowl in 1955. He changed the culture back into a winning one in a hurry from 1987-89.

In fact, Michigan State won nine games for the first time since 1965 in his second season with the Spartans in 1987. Michigan State went 9-2-1 that season, winning the Rose Bowl again and finishing No. 8 in the final AP Poll. He had 127 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception in that season and was one of the heroes of the Rose Bowl team.

If you thought he was done there, you were sadly mistaken as he had 164 tackles and six tackles for loss the next season, helping Michigan State to a 6-5-1 record and Gator Bowl appearance.

Snow’s senior season had to take the cake, though, as he was named a first-team All-American after leading the Big Ten in total tackles with a whopping 172. He had 11 double-digit tackle performances during this final season, including an astounding 23 against Illinois which has been the most by a Spartan since the 1970s.

A four-year career with that much success (473 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, six interceptions) has cemented him as atop the list of all-time defenders at Michigan State.

Michigan State has had some impressive linebackers over the years, but Snow tops the list. It’s unfortunate that a knee injury derailed his NFL career.