Once upon a time, junior A.J. Jimmerson was the heir apparent to Javon Ringer’s throne as the MSU football team’s star running back.
Some, including then-head coach John L. Smith, even predicted Jimmerson would become a better player than Ringer, who finished his career second in school history with 4,329 rushing yards.
But in 2007, Smith was fired and Mark Dantonio was hired — a change that didn’t bode well for Jimmerson, whose skills were tailored for Smith’s spread offense.
With a different offensive system in tow, Jimmerson’s rushing totals have declined in each of the past two seasons. He rushed for 51 yards in 2007 and 14 yards last season.
As the only senior in MSU’s stable of running backs this season, Jimmerson is looking forward to reaching his potential.
“I can use power to get outside or go up the middle, plus I catch the ball pretty well,” Jimmerson said.
“All that together makes me a pretty good player.”
The problem for Jimmerson is that he’ll be competing for time in a crowded backfield.
With no established frontrunner in the post-Ringer era, sophomore Ashton Leggett, freshman Caulton Ray and heralded incoming freshmen Edwin Baker and Larry Caper all will be competing for carries.
Dantonio said Jimmerson will have to earn his carries, just like everybody else.
“A.J. is the guy that has the most longevity here, he’s the most experienced guy, but he’s got to separate himself just like the others,” Dantonio said. “They’ve
gotta separate themselves from the pack.”
Last week, Dantonio said Leggett had done the most separating. Leggett, a 228-pound bruiser, is a more classic fit for MSU’s “three yards and a cloud of dust” offensive system.
But with more than four months to go before MSU’s opening game against Montana State, Jimmerson says he has plenty of time to change Dantonio’s mind.
He hopes he’s already proven something to Dantonio by playing hurt during spring camp.
“I had both ankles sprained, so I’m just showing coaches that I’m still practicing, still doing my thing and competing,” Jimmerson said.
Although they’re technically his competition, fellow running backs say Jimmerson has never shied away from sharing advice with his teammates.
“It’s been great having him around,” Ray said. “I have a lot to learn so I get to see him out there doing a lot of things right.”
Although he hasn’t played in Dantonio’s offense much longer than the other running backs, Ringer said Jimmerson’s experience gives him a clear advantage.
But Ringer added that Jimmerson can’t let that get to his head, stressing he needs to bring the same lunch pail mentality Ringer had all four years with the Spartans.
“I had to make sure that I never came out to the practice field and took days off,” Ringer said. “On the field, it’s all about competing.
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“I kept that edge above all the other little running backs, so that’s something that he needs to continue to do.”
