Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • B7

FREEP.COM TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 7B College Football The College Football Hall of Fame loses lus- ter and credibility each year that passes with- out Lorenzo White being part of a class. Fifteen running backs from the highest lev- el of college football have been elected to the Hall since White made the ballot in 2011. About half of them have no business being in there without him. Ditto for the four Michigan State Spartans been inducted over the last eight years. White is on the ballot for the ninth time in 2019, along with 76 other Football Bowl Sub- division-level players.

The class, including about 10 former Division I players, will be an- nounced on Jan. 7. nothing more White can do, other than hope those with a say the more than 12,000 National Football Foundation members and present Hall of Fam- ers remember the mid-to-late 1980s this time. You know, back when he rushed for 2,066 yards in 1985, another 1,572 in 1987, carrying literally carrying the Spartans to the Rose Bowl. The National Football FBS Honors Court, chaired by Ohio State legend Archie makes the call.

At a certain point, if phone ring, then the College Football Hall of Fame is sort of irrelevant. By my count, White is the second best MSU football player of all time, behind only George Webster. When I assembled a carefully thought-out top 50 countdown of MSU greats three summers ago, that was the order at the top: Webster, then White, then so on and so forth. The four other Spartans inducted into the College Football Hall since White made the ballot Gene Washington (2011), Percy Snow (2013), Clinton Jones (2015) and Kirk Gibson (2017) are all deserving. also all a notch or two below White.

I expect national writers and adminis- trators and former players to have a crystal- clear sense of the pecking order at MSU. Judg- ing players from one position against players at another position is more in football than most sports. So forget those potential in- justices. just move on to where they should know better: comparing White to other run- ning backs. Of the 15 FBS running backs elected over the last eight years, I have no gripe with Paul Palmer (2018), Trevor Cobb (2018), San Diego Marshall Faulk (2017), Iowa Troy Davis (2016), LaDainian Tomlinson (2014), Darren Nelson (2014) or Ron Dayne (2013).

Each of those seven was either statistically compa- rable or, in the cases of Dayne, Tomlinson, Da- vis and Faulk, unquestionably ahead of White in either numbers or brilliance or both. The other eight, not so much. Jones, Rob Lytle (also 2015), North Caroli- na Ted Brown (2013), Otis Armstrong (2012), Charles Alexander (2012), Clendon Thomas (2011) and Oregon Bill Enyart (2011) are all leg- ends at their schools, all All-Americans, all worthy. None more so, however, than Lorenzo White. a reminder of what White did at MSU and where he was historically when he left: His 4,887 career yards, most of them during his sophomore and senior seasons, made him seventh all-time in college football after his 1987 season and the Jan.

1, 1988 Rose Bowl. His 2,066 yards as a sophomore in 1985 were the fourth-most in college history at the time. The three rushers ahead of him then: Mar- cus Allen, Mike Rozier, Tony Dorsett all long ago College Football Hall of Famers. The next to pass him, Oklahoma Barry Sanders. As I wrote about White in that 2015 MSU Top 50 countdown, 5-foot-11 and a shade over 200 pounds, White had an array of moves.

He changed directions and ran lateral- ly as fast as he hit the hole. He could freeze de- fenders with a simple dip of the shoulders, and did so He spearheaded a reemergence of MSU football. His 419 carries in 1985 remain the third-most in college football history. As a sen- ior, he carried 56 times for 292 yards in the win over Indiana that sent the Spartans to Pasade- na. There are lots of legendary tales about leg- endary players at schools all over the country.

The legend of Lorenzo White, outside of these parts, seems to be forgotten. Or at least under- appreciated. proven each time left sitting, un- chosen on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot. Contact Graham Couch at Follow him on Twitter MSU legend White belongs among Hall of Fame elite Graham Couch Columnist Lansing State Journal USA TODAY NETWORK MICHIGAN historic run seems to be under-appreciated by some Lorenzo White rushed for 2,066 yards in 1985 and, two years later, led MSU to its Rose Bowl, shown here, in two decades. He remains the all-time leading rusher.

LSJ FILE Five former players from Michigan and Michigan State, and one ex-coach, landed on the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. Former Michigan State line- men Flozell Adams and Tony Mandarich were joined by former Spartan running back Lorenzo White on this ballot, re- leased Monday. Ex-Michigan State head coach Darryl Rogers is also on the list. Former Michigan linemen Steve Hutchinson and Jumbo Elliott are the two Wolverine representatives on the ballot this year. A three-time Big Ten champion and unanimous All-American in 2000, Hutchinson was part of 1997 national championship squad as an of- fensive guard.

He is one of only seven play- ers in league history to be named a four- time All-Big Ten player. He was also a for the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year as he was a seven-time Pro Bowler and All- Pro selection in the NFL. Elliott, meanwhile, was a two-time team All-American lineman at Michigan and a consensus All-American in 1987. A two-time All-Big Ten Elliott was also a 1986 co-Big Ten champ. He played 14 years in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 1990.

Mandarich sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting as an lineman and consensus All-American in 1988. He helped MSU to a 1987 Rose Bowl victory and eventually became the No. 2 overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. Though he was considered a draft bust, he is now a profes- sional photographer in Arizona. The Big lineman in the year in 1997, Adams was a three-time All- Big Ten tackle who went on to become a Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cow- boys in the NFL.

He allowed just two sacks at MSU in 1997. A unanimous All-American in 1985 and a consensus pick in 1987, White became the Spartan to lead the team in rushing and is still the all-time leader in rushing yards (4,887) and rushing touchdowns (43). Rogers won 129 college games in stops at Cal State Hayward, Fresno State, San Jose State, Michigan State and Arizona State. He went 24-18-2 at MSU and won a share of the league title in 1978. He eventually went 18- 40 during four years as head coach of the Detroit Lions.

The 2019 hall of fame class will be an- nounced Jan. 7, 2019. To be eligible for the ballot, players have to be 10 full seasons removed from their nal year of college eligibility. They have to have earned a All-America honor during their career and have to have played within the last 50 years. Hutchinson and Mandarich among CFB HOF nominees Other former Wolverines, Spartans also on ballot Nick Baumgardner Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK Remember Cassius Peat? You may not.

The Chandler, Arizona, native was only at Michigan State for one season, 2015, but his journey has been a long and winding road that included a potential return to East Lan- sing as recently as March 2017. That never happened. But after stints at two junior colleges, Peat has a Division 1 home, with the announcement that play at the University of Virginia for his two years. Peat redshirted in 2015, and in August 2016 Michigan State announced Peat was released from his scholarship. From there, he ended up at Eastern Arizona but stay long.

In- stead, he played his 2016 season at Pima Community College and then at Scottsdale Community College for the 2017 campaign. But before he ended up at Scottsdale, Peat announced in March 2017 he was coming back to Michigan State. He told the Free Chris Solari: just really relieved and very humble for another chance. rare, this never happens. just excited to get back and leave it all out on the for coach (Mark) Dantonio and the peo- ple who helped me get back.

who motivated to play However, in June 2017, Peat announced that Michigan State coaches told him he should not come back to Michigan State. I think it was Peat said. days before I was supposed to re- port, they just blindsided me and said I come. did nothing wrong. I was admitted to get back in and everything.

been trying to bite my lip about it, but I just feel like I have to put that out there. They even give me a Later that month, Dantonio addressed the issue, saying that Peat did not certain obligations needed to return to the program. certain things that you gotta be able to get done before you can come Dantonio said. one of those things, but I want to speak bad about It was not the time Peat had perhaps jumped the gun. After his 2016 season at Pi- ma, Peat announced he was transferring to UCLA (where he initially committed in high school).

But he never enrolled there and ished out the academic year at Pima. Peat was ranked the No. 4 junior college defensive end by 247sports. Peat played in two games for Scottsdale last season, registering four tackles. Accord- ing to team website, Peat did not play in any games in 2016.

Coming out of Corona del Sol (Arizona) High School in 2015, Peat was ranked as the 166th-best player nationally by scout.com. Follow digital sports producer Phil Friend on Twitter Former MSU player Peat to career with Virginia From JUCO to journeyman, DE to play last 2 years in D-I Phil Friend Lansing State Journal USA TODAY NETWORK MICHIGAN Michigan State football has to wait more than three months before it can begin its quest for a Big Ten championship and per- haps beyond. That does not mean we look ahead. The schedule is favorable for the most part, with a daunting early September trip to the desert heat at Arizona State and a game at Penn State that could well decide the Big Ten East Division champion. MSU also welcomes both Michigan and Ohio State to Spartan Stadium and avoids West Division-favorite Wisconsin again.

a game-by-game look at the Spar- season. top returns 8 starters Ohio State lost quarterback, 2 linemen, but looks impressive again Chris Solari Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK MSU SCHEDULE Nov. 10: Ohio State Buckeyes Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing. Last record: 12-2, 8-1 (Big Ten league champion). Postseason: Defeated USC 24-7 in Cotton Bowl Classic.

Head coach: Urban Meyer, seventh season. Players to watch: RB J.K. Dobbins, Parris Campbell, DE Nick Bosa. About the opponent: The Buckeyes captured Urban second Big Ten title, including a 48-3 steamrolling of MSU in Columbus, but failed to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Gone are QB J.T.

Barrett, All-American center Billy Price and left tackle Jamarco Jones, but Ohio State returns eight starters on offense that averaged a league-leading 506 yards a game. It includes J.K. Dobbins, who set a school record for freshmen with 1,403 rushing yards, and explosive backup Mike Weber. Finding replacement between Dwayne Haskins Jr. and Tate Martell is imperative, as is replacing eight starters on defense.

Prediction: MSU 20, Ohio State 16. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!.