Big Ten running back showcase: Greene vs. Ringer

Big Ten Blog

October, 3, 2008

Oct 3

4:40

PM ET

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By Adam Rittenberg

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

It's time to take a look at the other major matchup of Big Ten running backs taking place on Saturday. Iowa's Shonn Greene and Michigan State's Javon Ringer didn't get nearly as much preseason attention as Chris Wells and P.J. Hill, but so far they've done more damage.

Ringer has stormed onto the Heisman radar with a staggering start to the season. The Spartans senior ranks second nationally in rushing average (179.4 ypg) and has 41 more carries than any other FBS back. Greene might be an even bigger surprise. After spending last season at a community college to improve his academics, Greene has stepped into a starting role and carried the load for the Iowa offense. He ranks sixth nationally in rushing average (133 ypg).

The two backs meet Saturday at Spartan Stadium (ESPN2, noon ET), and here's a closer look at the matchup.

	Shonn Greene	Javon Ringer
Vitals	5-foot-11 235 pounds	5-foot-9 202 pounds
Hometown	Sicklerville, N.J.	Dayton, Ohio
2008 stats	99 carries, 665 yds, 5 TDs	187 carries, 898 yds, 12 TDs
Team rush rank	35th nationally (186.2 ypg)	25th nationally (203.4 ypg)
2007 stats	Did not play	245 carries, 1,447 yds, 6 TDs
Career stats	168 carries, 1,043 yds, 7 TDs	640 carries, 3,658 yds, 24 TDs
Career highs	159 yds (vs. Northwestern on 9/7)	282 yds (vs. Florida Atlantic on 9/13)
Career vs. opp.	Never faced Michigan State	103 yds, 0 TDs in 2007
100-yd games	6	12

Tags:

Uncategorized, Michigan State Spartans, Iowa Hawkeyes, Shonn Greene, Chris Wells, P.J. Hill, Javon Ringer

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