Javon Ringer

Javon Ringer

Javon Eugene Ringer (born February 2, 1987) is an American football running back who last played for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Michigan State University, and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He is currently a free agent.

Ringer attended Chaminade-Julienne High School where he set various school and state records. In college, he achieved many awards. In 2005, he earned honorable mention Freshman All-America status from The Sporting News. He was also named to The Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman Team. In 2006, he earned the Biggie Munn Award, which is an award given to the team's most inspirational player. In 2007, he had a breakout season, becoming Michigan State's first 1,000 yard carrier since T. J. Duckett in 2001. He was also named Second Team All-Big Ten in the coaches and media polls. In 2008, as a Senior, he was named as one of four team captains. He was a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, which he finished in third, behind Shonn Greene and Knowshon Moreno. He was also a Heisman Trophy candidate at one point, the only running back to be officially nominated all year.

He had a minor knee injury during the end of the 2008 season, which he had corrective surgery on. This slowed his Combine numbers; however, he improved upon those numbers during MSU's Pro Days. He was one of 3 Spartans invited to the NFL combine. ESPN.com ranked him the 8th best running back in the draft. He was a projected 3rd rounder in the 2009 NFL Draft. Another site lists him as a mid-second round draft choice. Ringer has drawn comparisons to NFL players Mike Hart and Chester Taylor. His performance at the MSU Pro Day "absolutely blew NFL teams away", due to putting up impressive numbers while not fully recovered. NFL Analyst Mel Kiper said of Ringer "He's only 5-9, 205, but he's remarkably strong, a good athlete and just a tough kid with great character. He blocks extremely well, and he'll be a very serviceable No. 2 back. He'll probably end up being a fourth- or fifth-round pick."

Ringer battled with several running backs for the 3rd string position coming into his rookie 2009 season, a battle which he won. He made his NFL debut in week 1, as a kick returner, and overall has played in 7 games. He was benched as kick returner after a poor performance in week 2. He had his first NFL carries in a week 6 game against the New England Patriots. He is slated to be 2nd on the depth chart in 2010.