Michigan State University Athletics
Jeremy Langford: Stay Focused and Finish
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tyler Beck, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Jeremy Langford is familiar with going strong until the end.
The fifth-year senior running back has five touchdown runs of 25 or more yards in the fourth quarter the past two seasons, including the game-clinching 26-yard burst in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State.
"When you cross the goal line, you realize that you finished the game," said Langford. "It's not because of something the other team did; it's because of what we did. It wasn't handed to us - we took it."
Yet that's not the only reason why Langford is familiar with ending on a strong note. He has always stayed focused on his initial goal.
"Ever since I first arrived, I always wanted to play running back at Spartan Stadium," said Langford, who has also played cornerback and wide receiver during his time at Michigan State. "It's frustrating, especially as a young player, not knowing where to find a home at, or how to get on the field. But as I got older I realized it helped me with my game. It helped me to read defenses, and it helped me off the field; it helped me become the man I am today."
Following the 2012 football season, the Wayne, Michigan, native found himself in a battle to fill some pretty big shoes. Le'Veon Bell, a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, was taking all of his 1,793 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns with him. The Spartans were losing their workhorse, and needed someone to carry the ball.
 | "When you cross the goal line, you realize that you finished the game. It's not because of something the other team did; it's because of what we did. It wasn't handed to us - we took it." |
"Adversity is going to happen in your life," said Langford. "I didn't really play as much as I wanted too. I moved to cornerback, then to receiver, and then to running back. It wasn't easy."
Langford wasn't handed the starting job. He had to battle then-freshman Riley Bullough, now a linebacker, and then-junior Nick Hill.
"It was challenging to follow Le'Veon," said Langford. "At MSU we run the ball. I knew I believed in myself and my family believed in me to step into that spot and run the ball."
Langford's breakout performance came against Indiana in the sixth game of the 2013 season. He was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a career-high four touchdowns and rushing for 109 yards - the first of his school-record eight straight 100-yard rushing games. Langford took that streak all the way to Pasadena for the 100th Rose Bowl Game.
"(Winning the Rose Bowl) is something we talked about for a long time, since I arrived here as a freshman," said Langford. "It was great to accomplish that dream for the team, and for past Spartans everywhere. It's a lot of weight off of our shoulders, because you believe now that you're never too far down; you can make it (back to the Rose Bowl)."
"Jeremy just sort of waited his time out," said MSU head coach Mark Dantonio. "In 2013, he came into the season really as just one of a number of guys who were going to be competing for that tailback position. But he really asserted himself and all of a sudden he became the guy that was running behind his pads. There's no question that we wouldn't be in the Rose Bowl last year without Jeremy Langford."
Langford finished his 2013 campaign with 1,422 rushing yards, including a Big Ten-leading 18 rushing touchdowns. Amazingly, more than half of his rushing yards during the regular season came after contact, according to STATS. He has surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark again this season, and enters Senior Day with 1,116 yards and a streak of seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
No position takes a physical toll like playing running back does. Still, Langford has started 24 straight games for the Spartans.
"At running back, that's something you've got to go through," said Langford. "As you go through the week you feel sore, but by Saturday you're right back ready to take the field."
Toughness is a quality that Langford has demonstrated consistently, shining in the fourth quarter to ice games for the Spartans.
"When you're up at the end of games, and you want to wind the clock down, you want to run the football," said Langford. "(Coach Mark Dantonio) trusts you to keep the clock moving and get 4 yards or 5 yards, and just put the game away. It's a credit to the offensive line as well, because they help me get those yards we need."
He currently has a school-record streak of 13 straight Big Ten regular-season games with at least 100 yards rushing. This season, though, he's splitting carries more with senior Nick Hill and sophomore Delton Williams.
"It's keeping me fresh, and keeping the rest of the players fresh so nobody gets too banged up," said Langford. "When Nick gets in the game, he makes plays. It's the same thing with Delton Williams. They both run hard."
Langford partially credits the time he spent bouncing around different sides of the ball and different positions with his success. Even if it wasn't the way he planned his career to go, it was a valuable part of his journey.
That unique experience gives Langford a perspective, and advice for any younger player who is struggling with where to find their role. It's advice he would give to his younger self.
"Don't get frustrated," said Langford. "Stay positive and don't get upset when you move positions. It's all for the greater good. Everything happens for a reason, and Coach Dantonio cares about you. Keep your head up, and keep working."
"Jeremy is at a point now where all that in the past probably helped him," said co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Dave Warner. "As he reflects back, he would probably tell you that it made him stronger, and it had to, because he went through some struggles there playing those other positions and maybe it didn't turn out the way he had planned, and now all of a sudden he's found a home, and he feels good about it. I'm happy to see him having that success."
There's still work left, but Langford knows what needs to be done. It's what he and the Spartans did all last season, and what they have done throughout 2014 - including his career-best 35-carry, 177-yard rushing performance in the win over Michigan.
"I've been in seasons where we lost close games, so it feels good to finish," Langford said. "Just stay focused, and finish the game."
This feature was originally published in the Nov. 8 edition of Michigan State Gameday Magazine. Langford will be one of 20 seniors recognized in a pregame ceremony Saturday at Spartan Stadium on Senior Day.
