Javon Ringer

One of the true warriors of the game, Ringer sometimes looks like he has emerged from a fierce battle on the football field. The tough "old school" player proved throughout his career that he is perfectly capable of being a complementary back or one that a team can saddle up and ride to victory as its featured runner. Ringer has undergone two major surgeries on his knees, along with several other minor procedures, yet, when he is counted out, he just appears out on the football field. The coaching staff is still amazed that after undergoing surgery to repair torn knee ligaments in late September, 2006, he was back on the field carrying the ball just a little over a month later. Through all of those injuries, Ringer continued to excel. He closed out his career as the school's second-leading rusher with 4,398 yards and set the MSU all-time record with 5,426 all-purpose yards. He ranks second in Spartans annals with 843 carries and tied for fourth with 34 touchdown runs. His workhorse-like season in 2008 saw him carry the ball 390 times, the second-highest season total in school and Big Ten Conference history. With all of those lofty numbers, Ringer still remained the consummate team player. One example of his unselfishness came in his press conference after rushing for five touchdowns vs. Eastern Michigan in 2008. He led his entire offensive line on to the dais with him, telling all the media assembled, "these guys are the real game MVPs and deserve all the credit." Two weeks later, after rushing for 201 yards vs. Notre Dame, Ringer repeated the process, trying to share the spotlight. He brought a slew of offensive linemen, tight ends and fullbacks to the news conference. "We were able to win because of these guys," Ringer said. "Not because of me." "Javon Ringer is a total team player, Michigan head coach Mark Dantonio stated. "It's not about him, and you can't say enough about him as a person aside from his athletic abilities. But it's the person in him, it's the intangibles within him that make him the back that he is. There are other guys who are just as explosive and just as fast, but it's the things inside of him that make him special." One week after his 2008 Ohio State performance, Ringer was found doing something close to his heart - giving back to the community. Respected not only for his success on the field, but for his time spent working with youth in the local community, he is one of the most active student-athletes in MSU's Multicultural Program. Ringer spent that day attending to affairs for the Gear Up College Day Program, in which he served as a counselor to help advise middle school children. Ringer is also involved in the Academic Gladiators program, where he expressed the importance of academics to other student-athletes. His vibrant attitude has inspired children at hospitals and the MSU Child Development Lab, while his positive coaching skills at camps and clinics have made him a mentor to young football players. Ringer has proven to be a humble role model that the community has truly come to know, making him a fan favorite in the stands at Spartan Stadium. Ringer was a Super Prep All-American selection as a senior at Chaminade-Julienne High School. He was rated among the nation's top running backs by Rivals.com (18th), Super Prep (29th) and College Football News (31st), in addition to being listed among the country's top 10 all-purpose backs by Max Emfinger (fourth). He was also named to the All-Midwest team by Super Prep, Prep Football Report and Prep Star. The three-year starter and three-time All-Ohio selection finished fourth in voting for Mr. Football in 2004, despite missing his final six games after tearing a right knee ligament. In just seven contests that year, he rushed for 1,790 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a career-best 372 rushing yards and five touchdowns vs. Purcell Marian High. As a junior, Ringer generated 2,356 yards and scored 30 rushing touchdowns. He gained 2,038 yards and scored 30 times on the ground as a sophomore. In three seasons, he amassed 6,184 yards and 81 touchdowns rushing in 33 games (187.4 ypg). He also lettered in track, producing a personal best 10.6 clocking in the 100 meters. Ringer enrolled at Michigan State in 2005, where he appeared in 11 games, earning Freshman All-American and All-Big Ten Conference honors. Despite not starting any contests, he led the Spartans with 817 yards and five touchdowns on 122 carries (6.7 avg), the second-best season performance ever by a MSU freshman. He also snared 19 passes for 138 yards (7.3 avg). As a sophomore, Ringer Earned the Biggie Munn Award as the team's Most Inspirational Player, shocking teammates, coaching staff and team doctors when he returned to the field after just over a month after undergoing midseason knee surgery that was supposed to sideline him for the rest of the schedule. He still led the team with 86 rushing attempts for 497 yards (5.8 avg) and a score, adding 96 yards and a touchdown on 14 receptions (6.9 avg) and averaged 21.2 yards on four kickoff returns in eight games. In 2007, Ringer shared tailback duties with Jehuu Caulcrick, but still led the Spartans for the third consecutive year with 245 attempts for 1,447 yards (5.9 avg) and six touchdowns, ranking fourth in rushing among Big Ten players while becoming the first Spartan to rush for more than 1,000 yards since 2001. The second-team All-Big Ten pick also improved his pass catching skills, pulling down 35 passes for 295 yards (8.4 avg) while averaging 134.0 all-purpose yards per game. Ringer was a Doak Walker Award finalist (nation's top running back) and an All-American choice in 2008. He set school single-season records for points scored (132) and touchdowns rushing (22), as he placed second on the MSU annual record books with 390 carries for 1,637 yards (4.2 avg), ranking fourth in the nation with an average of 125.92 yards per game while leading the NCAA in scoring (10.15 ppg) and pacing the conference in all-purpose yardage (157.77 ypg).

positives

Compact body. Inside-out runner who will keep his center of gravity low and churn his legs to get extra yardage. Can escape arm tackles inside. Stays on the hip of pulling and zone-blocking linemen and waits for the hole to open up before hitting his second gear. Fights for yards on the outside when working against linebackers and safeties. Solid hands to make catches on screens and in the flat.

negatives

Short with only adequate strength and definition. Not particularly quick or elusive in the open field. Lacks breakaway speed. Has decent vision, but sometimes runs with his head down anticipating contact. Tends to dance ineffectively when on the edge. Often indecisive on stretch plays, failing to hit the hole quickly enough when it opens up. Has an open-field spin move, but loses his balance afterwards. Needs to improve his cut blocking in pass protection. Tore his ACL as a high school senior, missed four-plus games of the 2006 season due to a torn right MCL and did not participate at the Senior Bowl due to a knee injury. However, he did participate in the combine workouts in February, just six weeks after undergoing knee surgery Jan. 7.

2004: Suffered a right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear vs. Cincinnati's McNicholas High (10/08), missing the final six games after undergoing reconstructive surgery. 2006: Suffered a right ankle sprain vs. Eastern Michigan (9/09)...Left the Pittsburgh game (9/16) in the fourth quarter with cramps...Suffered right knee medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligament tears vs. Illinois (9/30). Underwent surgery, missing the next four games vs. Michigan, Ohio State, Northwestern and Indiana. 2008: Almost sat out the Michigan game after he suffered a hamstring pull in Thursday's practice (10/23) prior to the contest and also suffered a left knee sprain and what would later be diagnosed as a meniscus tear in his right knee vs. Michigan (10/25), but continued to play the rest of the schedule...Played in the Wisconsin clash (11/01) with flu-like symptoms. 2009: Missed the Senior Bowl after undergoing knee surgery Jan. 7 to repair a torn lateral meniscus.

4.55 in the 40-yard dash

1.53 10-yard dash

2.60 20-yard dash

4.11 20-yard shuttle

6.87 three-cone drill

34-inch vertical jump

9'7" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times

Note: agility tests were conducted six weeks after Ringer underwent knee surgery.

Attended Chaminade-Julienne (Dayton, Oh.) High School, playing football for head coach Jim Place

Super Prep All-American selection as a senior

Rated among the nation's top running backs by Rivals.com (18th), Super Prep (29th) and College Football News (31st), in addition to being listed among the country's top 10 all-purpose backs by Max Emfinger (fourth)

Named to the All-Midwest team by Super Prep, Prep Football Report and Prep Star

The three-year starter and three-time All-Ohio selection finished fourth in voting for Mr. Football in 2004, despite missing his final six games after tearing a right knee ligament

In just seven contests that year, he rushed for 1,790 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a career-best 372 rushing yards and five touchdowns vs. Purcell Marian High

As a junior, Ringer generated 2,356 yards and scored 30 rushing touchdowns

Gained 2,038 yards and scored 30 times on the ground as a sophomore

In three seasons, he amassed 6,184 yards and 81 touchdowns rushing in 33 games (187.4 ypg)

Also lettered in track, producing a personal best 10.6 clocking in the 100 meters.

Sociology major

One of the most active student-athletes in MSU's Multicultural Program, Ringer has participated in numerous events, including the Gear Up College Day Program in which he served as a counselor to help advise middle school children, and the Academic Gladiators program where he expressed the importance of academics to other student-athletes

His vibrant attitude has inspired children at hospitals and the MSU Child Development Lab, while his positive coaching skills at camps and clinics have made him a mentor to young football players

Owns a black belt in karate

Son of Bishop Eugene and Darlene Ringer

Born 2/02/87

Resides in Dayton, Ohio.