Javon Ringer
Encyclopedia
Javon Ringer is an American football
running back
for the Tennessee Titans
of the National Football League
. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL draft
. He played college football
at Michigan State
.
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.
. He owns a black belt
in Karate
. He majored in sociology
. Ringer is known for his "unselfish attitude", such as signing any autograph
a fan asks for, and often does charity work. Michigan State Head coach Mark Dantonio
said of Ringer "He's a total team player - it's not about him, and you can't say enough about him as a person aside from his athletic abilities." Ringer is one of the most active student-athletes in MSU's Multicultural Program- He has participated in numerous events, including the Gear Up College Day Program in which he served as a counselor to help advise middle school children, and the Academic Gladiators program where he expressed the importance of academics to other student-athletes. His "vibrant attitude" inspired children at hospitals and the MSU Child Development Lab, while his positive coaching skills at camps and clinics have made him a mentor to young football players.
MSU's Angela Howard, who is the Director of Student-Athlete Development said "Javon's definitely a go-to guy as far as helping out in the community. He's not seeking the attention. Everything he does is for the right reasons, and he's willing to take the time, which he doesn't have a lot of. He's not doing it because I'm telling him he has to go out, or because he's the face of Michigan State football. When he's out there, he's doing it because he believes in doing it. His nephew, Northmont High School linebacker Kaleb Ringer, has recently committed to Michigan"
When asked about his motivations, Ringer responded “Honestly, my number-one motivation is my family". While talking about his attitude and upbringing, Ringer mentioned, "A lot of that just comes from my upbringing. I have a tremendous mother and father, I grew up in the church, I have a very religious family. I’m not all about myself just because I know if it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be able to go out there and compete anyway. So I never look at it as a selfish thing—I never want all the attention or want it to be about me, because I never want to get in to a situation where God has to humble me. I know for a fact that I am not doing it by myself; it is because of Him
that I can compete over and over again. That’s basically how I grew up. I was blessed and fortunate to have a family like I have." Michigan State strength and conditioning coach Ken Mannie said of Ringer, "He's extremely self-motivated. He doesn't need pep-talks. He challenges himself every day." When asked "Who is the most instrumental person in your life" Ringer responded, "My Parents".
Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said Ringer "epitomizes everything a student-athlete should be. He does everything in the classroom and on the field respectively. His tutor, Ryan Kraft a senior from Farmington Hills, was a great help in his academic performance and took him the distance where he needed to get to." In June 2009, Ringer and all the other Titan rookies made an appearance at a local hospital to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day
. Ringer also went to a V.A. hospital in November 2009 with other Titans to celebrate Veteran's Day.
(the same high school former Spartan nose guard Brandon McKinney
attended) where Ringer is the all-time leading rusher. He was coached by Jim Place. In 33 games, he totalled 6,184 rushing yards and 81 TDs, an average of 187.9 yard per Game and 2.45 touchdowns per game. Ringer wore #29 during high school. Ringer also lettered in track, producing a personal best 10.6s in the 100-meter dash.
In 2001, as a freshman, Ringer was on the football team, but did not register an offensive stat.
In 2002, as a sophomore, Ringer was named the team's starter. He help lead his team to a 14-1 record and the Ohio D-II State Championship, which was the school's first state championship in football. He totaled 2,038 yards and scored 30 rushing TDs that year. In the state championship game he broke records for both rushing TD's (4) and rushing yards in a D-II championship game (251).
In 2003, as a Junior, he rushed for 2,356 yards and scored 30 rushing TDs, including a 307 yard, 3 TD game against McNicholas.
In 2004, as a Senior, he participated in the Big 33 Football Classic
, which features the top high school football players in Pennsylvania playing against the top high school football players in Ohio. He rushed for 1,790 yards and 21 touchdowns in seven games. His career best game was against Purcell Marian High School
, where he had 372 rushing yards and scored five TDs. Later that year, Ringer tore his ACL, which kept him out the final 6 games of the season, and his 'shaky grades' plus a low ACT
score took him off the map to attend Ohio State University
. Scouts.com had him listed as the 18th best high school running back. His measurables during his senior year were: Weight: 186 lbs, Forty time: 4.44 secs, Bench max: 325 pounds, Bench reps: 20, Vertical: 36 inches, and Shuttle: 3.87 secs. SuperPrep ranked him the 29th best back, Collegefootballnews.com ranked him 31st, while Detroit Free Press ranked him the 18th best prospect in the Midwest. Rivals.com listed him as the 13th best senior in the state of Ohio. Superprep named him the 25th best Prospect in the Midwest, while Prep Football report ranked him 37th. Max Emfinger ranked him the 4th best all-purpose back in the country. in 2004, Ringer attend the NIKE Camp in Columbus, OH in April and had a very impressive workout
He received scholarship offers from Michigan State, USC, Tennessee, Florida, and Iowa. Ringer was also heavily recruited by Ohio State, but did not receive an scholarship offer from the school. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
said “(We) were very interested. We thought he was a great player.” One article said the reason why Ringer wasn't given an offer is because OSU compared Ringer to Ryan Brewer, a high school standout from Troy, Ohio who OSU passed on. Brewer ended up having a very solid college career at South Carolina for Coach Lou Holtz and helped the Gamecocks to beat Ohio State in the 2001 Outback Bowl. Ringer attended summer football camps at Ohio State during high school. One of them was 2004's NIKE Camp in Columbus, Ohio. During that camp, Ringer had a camp best shuttle run of a 3.87 seconds. He also had the best vertical leap that day with a jump of 37 inches (939.8 mm).
He also attended a camp at the University of Michigan
.
, Tennessee
, and Florida
, among other schools.
Ringer visited MSU on December 14, 2004, where and during the visit, he committed to the school. In his career at Michigan State, Ringer was very successful. Ringer rushed for 4398 yards in his career at Michigan State, with a 4.1 yards per carry average. Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis
has described Ringer's playing abilities by saying "You can hit him and hit him and hit him and he just keeps on coming."
Ringer's college numbers are similar to those of Emmitt Smith
, Thurman Thomas, Brian Westbrook
and Frank Gore
. In 2010, Ringer was named an honorable mention, along with another Michigan State player Charles Rogers, in ESPN's "Big Ten players of the decade".
In 2005
, as a Freshman
, Ringer earned honorable mention Freshman All-America status from The Sporting News. He was also named to The Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He finished with 122 carries for 817 yards, the second-best single-season rushing total by a True freshman in MSU history.
In 2006, as a sophomore
, Ringer earned the Biggie Munn Award
, which is an award given to the team's most inspirational player. In 8 games (including five starts), he led the Spartans in rushing with 86 carries for 497 yards, despite missing five games with a knee injury. Then-Spartans coach John L. Smith
said of Ringer, "Javon Ringer is a special player and a special young man. He has incredible heart and courage. After suffering what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury, Javon willed himself back onto the playing field. He worked his tail off, so he could go to the field and compete with his teammates."
After his Sophomore year, Ringer changed his number from 39 to 23.
As a Junior
, in 2007
, Ringer had a breakout season, rushing for 1,447 yards on 245 carries with a 5.9 average, becoming Michigan State's first 1,000 yard carrier since T.J. Duckett in 2001. In addition, he was named Second Team All-Big Ten in the coaches and media polls.
In April 2008, NFL draft expert Mel Kiper named Ringer as his choice as the best back in the class of 2009. Going into 2008, Ringer ranked 6th all time on MSU's rushing list with 3,259 yards. Also, his 596 carries is 7th in school history. He also was seventh on MSU's all purpose yardage list with 4,311.
In 2008
, as a Senior, Ringer was a Heisman Trophy
candidate. He was nominated for three national awards: the Maxwell Award
(an award given to the College football Player of the Year), Walter Camp Award
, and the Doak Walker Award
(nation's top running back). He was a preseason third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, where he was rated 6th among the nation's top running backs. The Chicago Tribune
calls Ringer a "Brusing Runner", a title that former teammate Jehuu Caulcrick
also acquired. Ringer was also named as one of four team captains Ringer also had never carried the ball over thirty times in a game before the 2008 season, a mark which he broke multiple times in 2008.
On August 30, against , Ringer had 200 all-purpose yards, including a career-best 102 yards on kickoff returns, he had 81 yards on the ground on 27 attempts with 2 touchdowns. On September 6, against , Ringer was named Big Ten Tri-Player of the Week after scoring a career-high five touchdowns, with 205 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 135 yards on a 34 carries. On September 13, 2008, against , Ringer was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row, when he rushed for 282 yards on 43 carries, with a 6.6 average, scoring 2 touchdowns. His rushing yardage and number of carries were both career highs at the time. In that game, he had 309 all-purpose yards, which is 2nd all time in MSU History. On September 20, against , Ringer had 39 Carries for 201 yards, including 2 touchdowns, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the week for the third straight time, becoming the first player to do so. On September 27, against Indiana
, Ringer had a career high 44 carries for 198 yards and 1 touchdown
On October 5, against , Ringer had a then season low 25 carries for 91 yards and no touchdowns. After this win, Michigan State entered the national rankings at #23 On October 11, against , Ringer had 124 yards on 35 with 2 touchdowns. Ringer now had 1,112 yards, becoming the first Spartan with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons since T. J. Duckett did it in 2000-2001. After this game, Michigan State had a record of 6-1, their best start since 2003. On October 16, Michigan State created a website dedicated to Ringer. 2 Days later, in a 45-7 loss against a tough run defense, Ringer had a then season low 16 carries for only 67 yards. On October 25, against the , Ringer had 37 for 194 and 2 Touchdowns, leading the Spartans to defeat the Wolverines for the first time at Michigan since 1990, also snapping a 6-game losing streak against them.
On November 1, Against , Ringer, who was slowed by a stomach virus, had 21 carries for a then season low 54 yards, with 2 rushing touchdowns. On November 8, against , Ringer had 32 carries for 121 yards (a 3.8 average) with 2 touchdowns.
Purdue coach Joe Tiller
said of Ringer after the game, "I don't know if he gets stronger or if the opponent just begins to wear down. But he's had multiple games where he's broken big plays in the second half. That tells me this guy is great from an endurance point of view."
On November 22, against , Ringer had a season low 17 carries for a season low 42 yards. Penn State at the time had the 10th best rushing defense in the nation.
Ringer's final game was against in the 2009 Capital One Bowl
on January 1, 2009, in which he had 20 carries for 47 total yards and 1 touchdown, the game was supposed to be a "showdown" between Ringer and Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno
, but both players combined for only 43 carries and 109 yards, with Ringer's touchdown being the only between the two. Ringer's numbers on the year established MSU single-season records for touchdowns and points scored. Ringer finished 2nd all time in MSU history (behind Lorenzo White
) as leading rusher. Ringer is MSU's all-time leader in all-purpose yards (5,349). His 823 career carries lead all-active FBS players and ranks third in MSU history; his 4,351 career yards were first among active players on BCS teams.
Ringer was as high as 2nd in the ESPN EXPERTS Heisman poll, but at one point completely dropped off of the list after 2 games with less than 100 yards rushing. After a good game against University of Michigan, Ringer re-entered the Heisman poll and finished the season ranked 8th. The ESPN Fan poll ranked him 3rd in Heisman voting, with over 10 percent of the votes Ringer was the only running back nominated for Heisman all year.
Ringer was named a first-team Midseason All-American by Sporting News Today, SI.com
, CBSSports.com
, CollegeFootballNews.com
, Rivals.com
, and Phil Steele. He was also named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He was named a finalist and finished third for the Doak Walker Award, finishing behind Shonn Greene
and Knowshon Moreno
. Ringer finished seventh in College Football News Top 10 Player Race (for national player of the year). He was also named an Associated Press First-Team all American. He was also a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year. Ringer finished his 2008 season leading the nation in Rushing attempts (370), coming in 2nd in Total rushing yards (1590), first in rushing touchdowns (21). He also finished third in the nation in yards per game (132.5) and all-purpose yardage (1974). He averaged more than 30 carries a game and had 92 more carries than anyone else in college football. His 44 carries against Indiana are the most by any college football player in a single game in 2008.
He graduated in 2009 with a Sociology
major.
. However, when Mel Kiper revised his 2009 draft choices in February 2009, Ringer was not listed as one of Kiper's top 5 running backs. It was revealed that Ringer has been playing on a torn lateral meniscus, which he had surgery on six days after the season ended. Ringer has said that he has worked out at the combine with his knee at "80%". Ringer skipped the 2009 Senior Bowl
because of his injury. Despite the injury, Ringer chose to participate in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He clocked in at 4.40. Ringer was quoted as saying "I personally was disappointed because I know I'm a lot faster than that. But I was able to do that just coming off knee surgery, so if I look at it that way, I'm happy." He finished third among running backs in the 20-yard shuttle (4.11 seconds) and fifth in the three-cone drill (6.87 seconds). During the combine, Ringer said he completed interviews with 12 teams. ESPN.com ranked him as the 8th best running back in the draft. When Scouts Inc graded Ringer, they gave him a 1 (Exceptional) in Character. They said of Ringer, "No off-the-field issues we are aware of. Coaches and teammates have only positive things to say about him. Outstanding intangibles." Ringer was a projected 3rd Round pick. Another site lists him as a mid-second round draft choice. Ringer has drawn comparisons to current NFL players Mike Hart and Chester Taylor
. His strengths are listed as build, toughness, and patience, while his weaknesses are listed as height, breakaway speed, open field elusiveness, and injuries. A Dayton Daily News article states that Ringer is "Still projected as a 2nd-rounder", despite the injury. The same article states that Ringer interviewed with the Cleveland Browns
and Cincinnati Bengals
at the NFL combine.
Ringer was one of 3 MSU players to be invited to the NFL combine, along with QB Brian Hoyer
and Safety Otis Wiley. Ringer took part in Michigan State's 2009 NFL Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty
indoor facility. Ringer's shuttle time was 3.89, which was faster than the fastest time at the NFL combine. Ringer said of the workout, "I think I did pretty well, especially coming back from my knee injury. I'm still not 100 percent, probably around 85 or 90. This is basically another big stepping stone from what I did at the combine. Now that I was able to do some training, I felt like my change of direction was superb. I feel like I did really well in the shuttle and in the three-cone drill." He participated in an MSU-sponsored podcast after the event discussing the event. Ringer improved his forty time from a 4.59 at the combine to a 4.42 during Pro Days. When asked about where he wants to get drafted, Ringer responded, "I'll go anywhere. To get picked up somewhere will be a blessing." Ringer's performance at Pro Day "absolutely blew NFL teams away", due to putting up impressive numbers while not fully recovered. With his draft stock on the rise, Ringer has worked out with several NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos
, the Tennessee Titans
and the San Diego Chargers
. He has also drawn interest from the Seattle Seahawks. He has since received workouts from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, the Buffalo Bills
, and the New York Jets
. A website that predicts him as a 3rd to 4th rounder also compares him to Priest Holmes
. Ringer stated about his knee right before the draft, "My leg feels fine. Right now, I'll give it between 90-95%." One site calls Ringer a "willing, if undersized, workhorse", but also questions his durability. When talking about draft day, Ringer responded "I'm not nervous at all. I'm just kind of really mellow, calm ... knowing that whatever happens is going to happen, and whatever team I go to, that's the team where I'm meant to be." 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 spent time with his family in Dayton, Ohio, on April 25 watching the draft and celebrating his mother's birthday, waiting to get selected.
Ringer was not selected in the first 4 rounds of the draft, where he was projected to go by some. Instead, Ringer was selected by the Tennessee Titans
in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL Draft, 173rd overall, the 11th RB taken overall. At the time of being drafted, he was one of eight Running Backs on the Titans roster. Terry McCormick of the Nashville City Paper, when grading the Titans draft, gave the Ringer pick an "A". Ringer said on his Twitter
page about being drafted “Titans! I can’t tell you how excited I am!”. He was the first (and only) MSU player drafted this year. Ringer said of his future pro career, "I definitely have something to prove with me showing that I am just as good, if not better, than a lot of the running backs that went above me. I don't want to be one of those running backs who is titled as, He was a good running back in college and went to the NFL and became a bust. I want to make sure I continue to be called a great running back also in the NFL." He mentioned of where he would fit in, "I would say I fit in pretty well. I know Chris Johnson
is kind of like the super-fast one, and LenDale White
is like the really big one. I would kind of be in the middle." Ringer is expected to play special teams and operate as a third-down back. Ringer said of the running back situation in Tennessee, "I feel very confident in my abilities. I feel like I'm definitely going to learn a lot from the vets. I'm very happy to be in a room with LenDale White and Chris Johnson. I'm going to make sure to play my role and push them in practice. I'm also going to make sure I ... continue to do what I can do to help Tennessee." Because 23 was taken by Donnie Nickey
, Ringer was assigned #3, a number normally prohibited for use by running backs. He kept the number until early August, when he switched to number 21.
Ringer participated in his first organized team activities in May 2009. When talking about rookie camp, he said "Ability-wise, I feel like I am good with competing. Strength, speed and quickness, I feel like I am OK. It's just the plays are a lot more complicated than college, and I am trying to get used to it. I just need some more time. We all just need time. But the veterans have been helpful." Discussing all the Titans rookies (including Ringer), offensive coordinator Mike Heimer-dinger said "Right now, you can tell they're all rookies. But that's about it." Ringer was one of three Titans rookies who remained unsigned trough July 20. Bruce Tollner, Ringer's agent, said of signing Ringer “We are continuing to talk with the Titans, and hopefully we should have something done pretty soon." However, Ringer and the Titans agreed to a multi-year deal on July 21, 2009. His base salary is expected to be $310,000. Titans' running backs coach Earnest Byner said of the running backs, “Each one knows that they're competing for playing time and a position on this team, so there's something to be said about that.” He also said of Ringer, “Bringing in Javon has definitely added to the mix because, right away, guys know he's something to reckon with because they see what he's done out here."
Ringer participated in the Titan's Training Camp in Clarksville
& Nashville
, Tennessee which started July 25. Ringer said of his role "My goal is to make sure I keep producing each chance I get and try to make sure I am being productive, And just continue to do what I can to get better." Titans head coach Jeff Fisher
said of Ringer "He's got great run skills and he's in good shape, He's got a sense and a knack for pushing the ball north and south. Again we just finished the first day in pads, and he's probably had 10 reps, so we still have some time." Ringer also said "I am definitely doing a lot of watching, Different things that they do is the reason why they're successful in the NFL, so I am kind of watching and learning and seeing how they go about their business. ... I am asking questions and they've been very helpful with me." Teammate Chris Johnson said of the other backs, "Basically if you have the talent to make it here, you pretty much know how to read a defense and know how to run a ball, So there are not a lot of things I can tell him as far as how to run the ball. ... (It's) just making sure I let him know some of the things I did to learn the playbook quickly."
About adjusting to the NFL, Ringer said "It's definitely a lot more complicated than in college, definitely. But mainly it's just the play calling, it's a lot longer than what it was in college, but all-in-all it's just learning a whole new terminology, some things are similar, but it's the words that they use are different. So it's all about adjustment. A lot of intelligence out there, they don't make mistakes. They are pretty mature on what they are doing. I am trying to build up to that, because a lot of them are veterans and have been there for a while. They understand what is going on, and I am just trying to keep up and not make them look bad."
Titans running backs coach Earnest Byner said of Ringer “You can see the running skills, the things that we saw when we watched him at Michigan State, Good patience, good body lean, the ability to set the inside zones, acceleration, vision. Can he go in and compete on offense? Yes he can. With the way things are progressing, with the competition … that competition is going to make that third position much better." When describing the role of the 3rd string running back, Jeff Fisher said "The rotation is, for the most part, like it was last year, So the third running back will be called upon if the second back can’t play, and to be a good player on special teams." Ringer commented on the role, saying "Special teams can help you win or lose a game. My goal coming in here was to be a productive player anyway possible. If special teams is it then that will be it. I know that’s going to be a big deal. I know I’ll get my chance sooner or later.”
Ringer was the favorite for the 3rd string running back role, which he won.
The Titans were the first NFL team to play a preseason game, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
on August 9, 2009. Ringer played his NFL debut there. Ringer discussed the game earlier, saying, "I am very excited. I have never even been to an NFL game as a fan, so my first experience I am going to be playing in one, I am looking forward to it." Ringer had 4 carries for 14 yards, along with 2 catches for 9 yards, while the Titans won 21-18. On August 15, in a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Ringer lead the team in rushing with 7 attempts for 51 yards, including a 36 yard touchdown run. The Titans won 27-20. Ringer said of the run, " I saw a linebacker prepare to blitz, and I thought the offense was going to check out of the play. But as the cadence kept going, I realized we were going to run into that blitz". In a 10-30 loss against the Dallas Cowboys
, the first game in Cowboys Stadium, Ringer again led the team in rushing, this time with 33 yards on 5 attempts. He had what would have been a 17-yard touchdown run called back due to a penalty. He also had 2 catches for 6 yards, and averaged 34 yards on two kickoff return.
Ringer said after the game, referring to being drafted late "I think a lot of people thought I had a lot of wear and tear on me, too much, so they didn’t know how much I have left, I just kind of laughed it off. I still feel good, and I think because of all that I’ll never be complacent. I feel like I want to prove myself even more, and prove a lot of people wrong. Everything happens for a reason, though." Titans quarterback Kerry Collins
said of Ringer "He is a good football player. Some guys are just football players, and Javon Ringer is a football player. He is patient, remarkably patient for a rookie running back. He sees blocking schemes well and has a good feel for when to cut back and when not to cut back. He has shown a lot of moves. I think the kid has a bright future.” Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck
also said “He has an understanding of the game, you can tell by the cuts he makes at times. The way he runs, and the way that he pays attention. You don’t see the coaches get on him much for messing up, so that’s big for a rookie. I’ve been impressed.’’ Tackle Michael Roos
also added in, “He sees the block in progress, He can tell when a block is going to be made and he trusts that it will be made, so sometimes he is cutting before the block has even been made. You don’t see that a lot. A few people have that, and he has definitely got it. Hopefully he can get reps with the (first team) a little more and see where it goes from there.’’
Jim Wyatt, of the Tennesseean, reports that Ringer is the favorite for the 3rd string job, and almost a lock to make the roster. Fullback Ahmard Hall
said “He’s a character guy, and you could tell that from the start, He’s the total package. You rarely get that combination of humility and natural athletic ability and I think he has that great combination. You combine those two and you get someone who could be unstoppable.’’ Of all the praise, Ringer responded, “I have to give credit to how I was brought up. I grew up in a religious family and I know without God none of this would be possible for me anyway, so that definitely keeps me humble. My personality is not to boast and brag about the accomplishments and things I am trying to do. Actions speak louder than words and that is what I try and strive for.’’ In a 17-23 loss to the Cleveland Browns
, Ringer only had one run for two yards. Ringer finished off the pre-season with a 7 carry 18 yard performance, in a 27-13 win over the Green Bay Packers
.
Ringer finished the pre-season with 24 carries for 118 yards, with one touchdown and 4 catches for 15 yards, ranking 27th among all NFL running backs for the preseason.
The Titans were also the first team to play in the Regular season, when they played the Steelers on September 10. Ringer was used to return kicks. In the 10-13 overtime loss, Ringer had 3 Kick Returns, a 19 yard average, including a long of 21 yards. He also played on special teams, and had one tackle. Ringer was again used as a kick returner, this time in a 31-34 loss to the Houston Texans
. Ringer had 6 returns for a 20 yard average, with a long of 25, and no touchdowns. He also played on special teams, but had no tackles. In a 17-24 week 3 loss to the New York Jets
, Ringer was benched as the kick returner, and, while active, did not play in the game. Ringer's kick return replacement, Ryan Mouton
, had two fumbles during returns. Despite this, Titan's coach Jeff Fischer stood behind his decision to bench Ringer. In a 37-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars
, Ringer was again active, but only played as a reserve on special teams. Ringer was one of three Titans who did not register a stat. The Titans, who last year had 13 wins, only three losses, started the season out zero wins four losses. They had their fifth loss of the season in a 31-9 loss to the Colts, a game in which Ringer was once again active, but only played special teams, not registering a stat. Ringer was one of two Titans that did not record an offensive stat. In a record-breaking 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots
, Ringer had his first NFL carries, having 7 carries for 47 yards (6.7 average), including a 32 yard run, for no touchdowns, all amounting in Garbage time
. The Titans finished the game with negative 7 passing yards as their record moved to 0 wins 6 losses, putting them in a tie for the worst record in the NFL alongside the St. Louis Rams
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Despite his performance in the loss, head coach Jeff Fisher
said that Chris Johnson and LenDale White will continue to get the majority of the carries. "There's not enough balls to go around. I wouldn't hesitate to put Ringer in if there's an issue," Fisher said. During a practice on October 28, 2009, Ringer injured his back and had to be carted off in an ambulance. Fisher said of the injury "It could be any number of things and it would be unfair for me to speculate right now. He is obviously in some pain." The call to the hospital was initially phoned to treat a potentially "traumatic" injury, but tests have revealed that the injury is "not considered serious". After spending a night with back problems, Ringer was released from the hospital early morning on October 29. Ringer's expected to miss a few weeks, as he's listed on the injury report with a back injury. Fisher commented on the injury, "We got some good news on Javon. He obviously didn’t practice today, but he’s going to be OK. We were really concerned about it. We feared the worst and we got good results," but would not elaborate as to the full extent of the injury. In a 30-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars
, Ringer was declared inactive before the game, and did not play. It was however, the Titans first victory of the season. In week 9, Ringer was again inactive and did not play. In week 10, Ringer was listed as questionable, but was declared inactive, and did not play. In a 20-17 win against the Houston Texans
, Ringer was inactive, and did not play. In 20-17 win against the Arizona Cardinals
, Ringer was listed as the #2 running back. He had one yard on one carry. Ringer played because LenDale White, the team's usual #2 Running back, was benched due to being late to a team meeting. Ringer was then inactive for the rest of the season. Ringer finished the season with 8 attempts for 48 yards, playing in 7 games.
The Titans were eliminated from playoff contention with a week 16 loss to the San Diego Chargers
.
Titans starting running back Chris Johnson- who had the vast majority of the carries in 2009, rushing for over 2000 yards- will reportedly get less carries in 2010. This will likely mean in increase in number of carries for Ringer. Backup Running back LenDale White is an impending free agent, and his future with the team also has an impact on Ringer's future. During the 2010 NFL Draft
, White was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the team signing Stafon Johnson
and LeGarrette Blount
as undrafted free agents, Head coach Jeff Fischer has confirmed that Ringer will be the new #2 running back, stating "We have a terrific running back [in Chris Johnson], and a very talented backup in Javon." When Chris Johnson held out of training camp, Ringer took the first-string role. When discussing the #2 running back role, offensive coordinator, Mike Heimerdinger said, "[Ringer's] been really good in training camp. I have a lot of confidence in Javon, with everything he has shown. He has the ability to make some runs... There's no reason why he can't be that guy." During the first pre-season game of the 2010 season, Ringer led the team in rushing yards (60 yards, seven carries). Fullback Ahmad Hall said of Ringer "Everybody knew he was a great back last year... He really, really immersed himself in the playbook, and picked everything up. If anything happened to C.J. he could definitely fill in and execute well. He is a smart guy, and he applies himself. The guy is a good running back."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
.
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
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
, the Walter Camp Award
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
, and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award
Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
, which he finished in third, behind Shonn Greene
Shonn Greene
-New York Jets:On April 26, 2009 the New York Jets traded up 12 spots to select Greene in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On August 30 Greene made an appearance in the Jets preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He rushed twice for six yards as well as catching an 85-yard pass...
and Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was selected 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at the University of Georgia.-Early years:Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in...
. He was also a Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
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
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. Another site lists him as a mid-second round draft choice. Ringer has drawn comparisons to NFL players Mike Hart and Chester Taylor
Chester Taylor
Chester Lamar Taylor also known as "Che Tay" is an American football running back of the National Football League who is currently on the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
. 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.
Personal
Ringer is the son of Bishop Eugene and Darlene Ringer, who are both ministers. Ringer is a devout ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. He owns a black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. He majored in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. Ringer is known for his "unselfish attitude", such as signing any autograph
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
a fan asks for, and often does charity work. Michigan State Head coach Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. He is credited for winning the 2010 Big Ten Championship and his 4 game win streak over arch-rival Michigan...
said of Ringer "He's a total team player - it's not about him, and you can't say enough about him as a person aside from his athletic abilities." Ringer is one of the most active student-athletes in MSU's Multicultural Program- He has participated in numerous events, including the Gear Up College Day Program in which he served as a counselor to help advise middle school children, and the Academic Gladiators program where he expressed the importance of academics to other student-athletes. His "vibrant attitude" inspired children at hospitals and the MSU Child Development Lab, while his positive coaching skills at camps and clinics have made him a mentor to young football players.
MSU's Angela Howard, who is the Director of Student-Athlete Development said "Javon's definitely a go-to guy as far as helping out in the community. He's not seeking the attention. Everything he does is for the right reasons, and he's willing to take the time, which he doesn't have a lot of. He's not doing it because I'm telling him he has to go out, or because he's the face of Michigan State football. When he's out there, he's doing it because he believes in doing it. His nephew, Northmont High School linebacker Kaleb Ringer, has recently committed to Michigan"
When asked about his motivations, Ringer responded “Honestly, my number-one motivation is my family". While talking about his attitude and upbringing, Ringer mentioned, "A lot of that just comes from my upbringing. I have a tremendous mother and father, I grew up in the church, I have a very religious family. I’m not all about myself just because I know if it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be able to go out there and compete anyway. So I never look at it as a selfish thing—I never want all the attention or want it to be about me, because I never want to get in to a situation where God has to humble me. I know for a fact that I am not doing it by myself; it is because of Him
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
that I can compete over and over again. That’s basically how I grew up. I was blessed and fortunate to have a family like I have." Michigan State strength and conditioning coach Ken Mannie said of Ringer, "He's extremely self-motivated. He doesn't need pep-talks. He challenges himself every day." When asked "Who is the most instrumental person in your life" Ringer responded, "My Parents".
Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said Ringer "epitomizes everything a student-athlete should be. He does everything in the classroom and on the field respectively. His tutor, Ryan Kraft a senior from Farmington Hills, was a great help in his academic performance and took him the distance where he needed to get to." In June 2009, Ringer and all the other Titan rookies made an appearance at a local hospital to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day
National Cancer Survivors Day
The National Cancer Survivors Day is a secular holiday celebrated on the first Sunday in June. The day is meant to “demonstrate that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality”...
. Ringer also went to a V.A. hospital in November 2009 with other Titans to celebrate Veteran's Day.
High school
Ringer attended and graduated from Chaminade Julienne Catholic High SchoolChaminade-Julienne High School
Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, center-city, Catholic high school located in downtown Dayton, Ohio, operated by the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. It is named after Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and St...
(the same high school former Spartan nose guard Brandon McKinney
Brandon McKinney
Brandon McKinney is an American football nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Michigan State.-San Diego Chargers:Brandon McKinney made his NFL debut for the...
attended) where Ringer is the all-time leading rusher. He was coached by Jim Place. In 33 games, he totalled 6,184 rushing yards and 81 TDs, an average of 187.9 yard per Game and 2.45 touchdowns per game. Ringer wore #29 during high school. Ringer also lettered in track, producing a personal best 10.6s in the 100-meter dash.
In 2001, as a freshman, Ringer was on the football team, but did not register an offensive stat.
In 2002, as a sophomore, Ringer was named the team's starter. He help lead his team to a 14-1 record and the Ohio D-II State Championship, which was the school's first state championship in football. He totaled 2,038 yards and scored 30 rushing TDs that year. In the state championship game he broke records for both rushing TD's (4) and rushing yards in a D-II championship game (251).
In 2003, as a Junior, he rushed for 2,356 yards and scored 30 rushing TDs, including a 307 yard, 3 TD game against McNicholas.
In 2004, as a Senior, he participated in the Big 33 Football Classic
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
, which features the top high school football players in Pennsylvania playing against the top high school football players in Ohio. He rushed for 1,790 yards and 21 touchdowns in seven games. His career best game was against Purcell Marian High School
Purcell Marian High School
Purcell Marian High School is a parochial high school in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood Cincinnati, Ohio, United States based in the Marianist Tradition...
, where he had 372 rushing yards and scored five TDs. Later that year, Ringer tore his ACL, which kept him out the final 6 games of the season, and his 'shaky grades' plus a low ACT
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
score took him off the map to attend Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Scouts.com had him listed as the 18th best high school running back. His measurables during his senior year were: Weight: 186 lbs, Forty time: 4.44 secs, Bench max: 325 pounds, Bench reps: 20, Vertical: 36 inches, and Shuttle: 3.87 secs. SuperPrep ranked him the 29th best back, Collegefootballnews.com ranked him 31st, while Detroit Free Press ranked him the 18th best prospect in the Midwest. Rivals.com listed him as the 13th best senior in the state of Ohio. Superprep named him the 25th best Prospect in the Midwest, while Prep Football report ranked him 37th. Max Emfinger ranked him the 4th best all-purpose back in the country. in 2004, Ringer attend the NIKE Camp in Columbus, OH in April and had a very impressive workout
He received scholarship offers from Michigan State, USC, Tennessee, Florida, and Iowa. Ringer was also heavily recruited by Ohio State, but did not receive an scholarship offer from the school. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
said “(We) were very interested. We thought he was a great player.” One article said the reason why Ringer wasn't given an offer is because OSU compared Ringer to Ryan Brewer, a high school standout from Troy, Ohio who OSU passed on. Brewer ended up having a very solid college career at South Carolina for Coach Lou Holtz and helped the Gamecocks to beat Ohio State in the 2001 Outback Bowl. Ringer attended summer football camps at Ohio State during high school. One of them was 2004's NIKE Camp in Columbus, Ohio. During that camp, Ringer had a camp best shuttle run of a 3.87 seconds. He also had the best vertical leap that day with a jump of 37 inches (939.8 mm).
He also attended a camp at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
College
Coming out of high school, Ringer was a prized recruit for the Spartans, choosing Michigan State over OSUOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
, and Florida
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
, among other schools.
Ringer visited MSU on December 14, 2004, where and during the visit, he committed to the school. In his career at Michigan State, Ringer was very successful. Ringer rushed for 4398 yards in his career at Michigan State, with a 4.1 yards per carry average. Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
has described Ringer's playing abilities by saying "You can hit him and hit him and hit him and he just keeps on coming."
Ringer's college numbers are similar to those of Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
, Thurman Thomas, Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
and Frank Gore
Frank Gore
Franklin Gore is an American football running back who plays for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami. NFL Network analysts have nicknamed Gore "The Inconvenient Truth".-High school career:Gore attended Coral Gables High...
. In 2010, Ringer was named an honorable mention, along with another Michigan State player Charles Rogers, in ESPN's "Big Ten players of the decade".
In 2005
2005 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the least amount of controversy surrounding the Bowl Championship Series title game in many years.To an extent it was a return to classic football...
, as a Freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
, Ringer earned honorable mention Freshman All-America status from The Sporting News. He was also named to The Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He finished with 122 carries for 817 yards, the second-best single-season rushing total by a True freshman in MSU history.
In 2006, as a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
, Ringer earned the Biggie Munn Award
Biggie Munn
Clarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship...
, which is an award given to the team's most inspirational player. In 8 games (including five starts), he led the Spartans in rushing with 86 carries for 497 yards, despite missing five games with a knee injury. Then-Spartans coach John L. Smith
John L. Smith
John L. Smith is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the special teams coach at the University of Arkansas, under head coach Bobby Petrino...
said of Ringer, "Javon Ringer is a special player and a special young man. He has incredible heart and courage. After suffering what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury, Javon willed himself back onto the playing field. He worked his tail off, so he could go to the field and compete with his teammates."
After his Sophomore year, Ringer changed his number from 39 to 23.
As a Junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
, in 2007
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
, Ringer had a breakout season, rushing for 1,447 yards on 245 carries with a 5.9 average, becoming Michigan State's first 1,000 yard carrier since T.J. Duckett in 2001. In addition, he was named Second Team All-Big Ten in the coaches and media polls.
2008 season
In April 2008, NFL draft expert Mel Kiper named Ringer as his choice as the best back in the class of 2009. Going into 2008, Ringer ranked 6th all time on MSU's rushing list with 3,259 yards. Also, his 596 carries is 7th in school history. He also was seventh on MSU's all purpose yardage list with 4,311.
In 2008
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
, as a Senior, Ringer was a Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
candidate. He was nominated for three national awards: the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
(an award given to the College football Player of the Year), Walter Camp Award
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
, and the Doak Walker Award
Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
(nation's top running back). He was a preseason third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, where he was rated 6th among the nation's top running backs. The Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
calls Ringer a "Brusing Runner", a title that former teammate Jehuu Caulcrick
Jehuu Caulcrick
Jehuu Tobias Caulcrick is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Michigan State....
also acquired. Ringer was also named as one of four team captains Ringer also had never carried the ball over thirty times in a game before the 2008 season, a mark which he broke multiple times in 2008.
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, Ringer had a career high 44 carries for 198 yards and 1 touchdown
On October 5, against , Ringer had a then season low 25 carries for 91 yards and no touchdowns. After this win, Michigan State entered the national rankings at #23 On October 11, against , Ringer had 124 yards on 35 with 2 touchdowns. Ringer now had 1,112 yards, becoming the first Spartan with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons since T. J. Duckett did it in 2000-2001. After this game, Michigan State had a record of 6-1, their best start since 2003. On October 16, Michigan State created a website dedicated to Ringer. 2 Days later, in a 45-7 loss against a tough run defense, Ringer had a then season low 16 carries for only 67 yards. On October 25, against the , Ringer had 37 for 194 and 2 Touchdowns, leading the Spartans to defeat the Wolverines for the first time at Michigan since 1990, also snapping a 6-game losing streak against them.
On November 1, Against , Ringer, who was slowed by a stomach virus, had 21 carries for a then season low 54 yards, with 2 rushing touchdowns. On November 8, against , Ringer had 32 carries for 121 yards (a 3.8 average) with 2 touchdowns.
Purdue coach Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and Purdue University from 1997 to 2008, compliling a career college football record of 126–92–1...
said of Ringer after the game, "I don't know if he gets stronger or if the opponent just begins to wear down. But he's had multiple games where he's broken big plays in the second half. That tells me this guy is great from an endurance point of view."
On November 22, against , Ringer had a season low 17 carries for a season low 42 yards. Penn State at the time had the 10th best rushing defense in the nation.
Ringer's final game was against in the 2009 Capital One Bowl
2009 Capital One Bowl
The 2009 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1, 2009 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference defeated the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten Conference by a score of 24–12. The game was televised to a national audience on ABC...
on January 1, 2009, in which he had 20 carries for 47 total yards and 1 touchdown, the game was supposed to be a "showdown" between Ringer and Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was selected 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at the University of Georgia.-Early years:Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in...
, but both players combined for only 43 carries and 109 yards, with Ringer's touchdown being the only between the two. Ringer's numbers on the year established MSU single-season records for touchdowns and points scored. Ringer finished 2nd all time in MSU history (behind Lorenzo White
Lorenzo White
Lorenzo Maurice White , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He attended Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale in Florida. A 5 ft 11 in running back from Michigan State University, White played in 8...
) as leading rusher. Ringer is MSU's all-time leader in all-purpose yards (5,349). His 823 career carries lead all-active FBS players and ranks third in MSU history; his 4,351 career yards were first among active players on BCS teams.
Ringer was as high as 2nd in the ESPN EXPERTS Heisman poll, but at one point completely dropped off of the list after 2 games with less than 100 yards rushing. After a good game against University of Michigan, Ringer re-entered the Heisman poll and finished the season ranked 8th. The ESPN Fan poll ranked him 3rd in Heisman voting, with over 10 percent of the votes Ringer was the only running back nominated for Heisman all year.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, CBSSports.com
CBSSports.com
CBSSports.com was founded in 1994 as SportsLine USA, and today is a CBS-owned website that provides sports scores, news, statistics, live and on-demand video, mobile apps, e-commerce, fantasy sports products, services, and information..Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, CBSSports.com it is...
, CollegeFootballNews.com
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
, Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, and Phil Steele. He was also named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He was named a finalist and finished third for the Doak Walker Award, finishing behind Shonn Greene
Shonn Greene
-New York Jets:On April 26, 2009 the New York Jets traded up 12 spots to select Greene in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On August 30 Greene made an appearance in the Jets preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He rushed twice for six yards as well as catching an 85-yard pass...
and Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was selected 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at the University of Georgia.-Early years:Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in...
. Ringer finished seventh in College Football News Top 10 Player Race (for national player of the year). He was also named an Associated Press First-Team all American. He was also a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year. Ringer finished his 2008 season leading the nation in Rushing attempts (370), coming in 2nd in Total rushing yards (1590), first in rushing touchdowns (21). He also finished third in the nation in yards per game (132.5) and all-purpose yardage (1974). He averaged more than 30 carries a game and had 92 more carries than anyone else in college football. His 44 carries against Indiana are the most by any college football player in a single game in 2008.
He graduated in 2009 with a Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
major.
Final 2008 national rankings
| 2008 National Stats | |
|---|---|
| Category | National Rank |
| Scoring | 1st |
| Rushing Yards | 4th |
| Carries | 1st |
| Touchdowns | 1st |
Overall stats
| Overall College Stats | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Attempts | Yards | Average | Long | Rush TD | Games Played |
| 2005 | 122 | 817 | 6.7 | 59 | 5 | 11 |
| 2006 | 86 | 497 | 5.8 | 71 | 1 | 8 |
| 2007 | 245 | 1447 | 5.9 | 80 | 6 | 12 |
| 2008 | 390 | 1637 | 4.1 | 64 | 22 | 13 |
| Total | 843 | 4398 | 5.4 | 64 | 34 | 44 |
MSU All-Time records
| MSU All-Time Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Ranking | |
| MSU Rushing Yardage | 4389 | 2nd |
| Carries | 843 | 2nd |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 34 | tied 4th |
| All-Purpose yards | 5426 | 1st |
| 100-yard rushing games | 19 | 2nd |
| 200-yard rushing games | 3 | Tied 3rd |
MSU season records
| MSU Season records | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stat | Year | Ranking | |
| Rushing Yards | 1637 | 2008 | 2nd |
| Rushing Yards | 1447 | 2007 | 6th |
| Carries | 390 | 2008 | 2nd |
| Total Touchdowns | 22 | 2008 | 1st |
| Points Scored | 132 | 2008 | 1st |
| All-Purpose Yards | 2051 | 2008 | 3rd |
Big Ten All-Time records
| Big Ten All-Time Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Ranking | |
| Rushing Yards | 4398 | 10th |
Big Ten season records
| Big Ten Season records | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stat | Year | Rank | |
| Carries | 290 | 2009 | 2nd |
Career highs
| Career Highs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Date | Opponent | |
| Carries | 44 | 09/27/08 | Indiana |
| Rushing Yards | 282 | 09/13/08 | Florida Atlantic |
| Rushing TD's | 5 | 09/06/08 | Eastern Michigan |
| TD Run | 80 | 10/06/07 | Northwestern |
| Catches | 7 | 09/29/07 | Wisconsin |
| Receiving Yards | 88 | 09/29/07 | Wisconsin |
| All-Purpose Yards | 209 | 09/13/08 | Florida Atlantic |
| Kickoff Return | 102 | 08/30/08 | Cal |
Pre-NFL draft
In April 2008, NFL draft expert Mel Kiper named Ringer as his choice as the best back in the class of 20092009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. However, when Mel Kiper revised his 2009 draft choices in February 2009, Ringer was not listed as one of Kiper's top 5 running backs. It was revealed that Ringer has been playing on a torn lateral meniscus, which he had surgery on six days after the season ended. Ringer has said that he has worked out at the combine with his knee at "80%". Ringer skipped the 2009 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
because of his injury. Despite the injury, Ringer chose to participate in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He clocked in at 4.40. Ringer was quoted as saying "I personally was disappointed because I know I'm a lot faster than that. But I was able to do that just coming off knee surgery, so if I look at it that way, I'm happy." He finished third among running backs in the 20-yard shuttle (4.11 seconds) and fifth in the three-cone drill (6.87 seconds). During the combine, Ringer said he completed interviews with 12 teams. ESPN.com ranked him as the 8th best running back in the draft. When Scouts Inc graded Ringer, they gave him a 1 (Exceptional) in Character. They said of Ringer, "No off-the-field issues we are aware of. Coaches and teammates have only positive things to say about him. Outstanding intangibles." Ringer was a projected 3rd Round pick. Another site lists him as a mid-second round draft choice. Ringer has drawn comparisons to current NFL players Mike Hart and Chester Taylor
Chester Taylor
Chester Lamar Taylor also known as "Che Tay" is an American football running back of the National Football League who is currently on the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
. His strengths are listed as build, toughness, and patience, while his weaknesses are listed as height, breakaway speed, open field elusiveness, and injuries. A Dayton Daily News article states that Ringer is "Still projected as a 2nd-rounder", despite the injury. The same article states that Ringer interviewed with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
at the NFL combine.
| Pre-draft measureables | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic | Arm span | Hand span | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-9⅛* | 210 lb (95.3 kg)* | 4.40** | 1.50 | 2.48 | 3.79** | 6.66** | 34" | 9'07" | 23* | 17* | 30¾ inches | 9⅝ inches | |||||||
| * represents NFL Combine NFL Combine The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general... **represents Michigan State Pro Day |
|||||||||||||||||||
| "X" Denotes "No Data" or "Did Not Participate" | |||||||||||||||||||
Ringer was one of 3 MSU players to be invited to the NFL combine, along with QB Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
and Safety Otis Wiley. Ringer took part in Michigan State's 2009 NFL Pro Day at the Duffy Daugherty
Duffy Daugherty
Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships...
indoor facility. Ringer's shuttle time was 3.89, which was faster than the fastest time at the NFL combine. Ringer said of the workout, "I think I did pretty well, especially coming back from my knee injury. I'm still not 100 percent, probably around 85 or 90. This is basically another big stepping stone from what I did at the combine. Now that I was able to do some training, I felt like my change of direction was superb. I feel like I did really well in the shuttle and in the three-cone drill." He participated in an MSU-sponsored podcast after the event discussing the event. Ringer improved his forty time from a 4.59 at the combine to a 4.42 during Pro Days. When asked about where he wants to get drafted, Ringer responded, "I'll go anywhere. To get picked up somewhere will be a blessing." Ringer's performance at Pro Day "absolutely blew NFL teams away", due to putting up impressive numbers while not fully recovered. With his draft stock on the rise, Ringer has worked out with several NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He has also drawn interest from the Seattle Seahawks. He has since received workouts from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. A website that predicts him as a 3rd to 4th rounder also compares him to Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
. Ringer stated about his knee right before the draft, "My leg feels fine. Right now, I'll give it between 90-95%." One site calls Ringer a "willing, if undersized, workhorse", but also questions his durability. When talking about draft day, Ringer responded "I'm not nervous at all. I'm just kind of really mellow, calm ... knowing that whatever happens is going to happen, and whatever team I go to, that's the team where I'm meant to be." 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 spent time with his family in Dayton, Ohio, on April 25 watching the draft and celebrating his mother's birthday, waiting to get selected.
2009
Ringer was not selected in the first 4 rounds of the draft, where he was projected to go by some. Instead, Ringer was selected by the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL Draft, 173rd overall, the 11th RB taken overall. At the time of being drafted, he was one of eight Running Backs on the Titans roster. Terry McCormick of the Nashville City Paper, when grading the Titans draft, gave the Ringer pick an "A". Ringer said on his Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
page about being drafted “Titans! I can’t tell you how excited I am!”. He was the first (and only) MSU player drafted this year. Ringer said of his future pro career, "I definitely have something to prove with me showing that I am just as good, if not better, than a lot of the running backs that went above me. I don't want to be one of those running backs who is titled as, He was a good running back in college and went to the NFL and became a bust. I want to make sure I continue to be called a great running back also in the NFL." He mentioned of where he would fit in, "I would say I fit in pretty well. I know Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson (running back)
Christopher Duan Johnson is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League...
is kind of like the super-fast one, and LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
is like the really big one. I would kind of be in the middle." Ringer is expected to play special teams and operate as a third-down back. Ringer said of the running back situation in Tennessee, "I feel very confident in my abilities. I feel like I'm definitely going to learn a lot from the vets. I'm very happy to be in a room with LenDale White and Chris Johnson. I'm going to make sure to play my role and push them in practice. I'm also going to make sure I ... continue to do what I can do to help Tennessee." Because 23 was taken by Donnie Nickey
Donnie Nickey
Donnie Orvin Nickey is an American football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State....
, Ringer was assigned #3, a number normally prohibited for use by running backs. He kept the number until early August, when he switched to number 21.
Mini-Camp/ OTA's
Ringer participated in his first organized team activities in May 2009. When talking about rookie camp, he said "Ability-wise, I feel like I am good with competing. Strength, speed and quickness, I feel like I am OK. It's just the plays are a lot more complicated than college, and I am trying to get used to it. I just need some more time. We all just need time. But the veterans have been helpful." Discussing all the Titans rookies (including Ringer), offensive coordinator Mike Heimer-dinger said "Right now, you can tell they're all rookies. But that's about it." Ringer was one of three Titans rookies who remained unsigned trough July 20. Bruce Tollner, Ringer's agent, said of signing Ringer “We are continuing to talk with the Titans, and hopefully we should have something done pretty soon." However, Ringer and the Titans agreed to a multi-year deal on July 21, 2009. His base salary is expected to be $310,000. Titans' running backs coach Earnest Byner said of the running backs, “Each one knows that they're competing for playing time and a position on this team, so there's something to be said about that.” He also said of Ringer, “Bringing in Javon has definitely added to the mix because, right away, guys know he's something to reckon with because they see what he's done out here."
Training Camp
Ringer participated in the Titan's Training Camp in Clarksville
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
& Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee which started July 25. Ringer said of his role "My goal is to make sure I keep producing each chance I get and try to make sure I am being productive, And just continue to do what I can to get better." Titans head coach Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
said of Ringer "He's got great run skills and he's in good shape, He's got a sense and a knack for pushing the ball north and south. Again we just finished the first day in pads, and he's probably had 10 reps, so we still have some time." Ringer also said "I am definitely doing a lot of watching, Different things that they do is the reason why they're successful in the NFL, so I am kind of watching and learning and seeing how they go about their business. ... I am asking questions and they've been very helpful with me." Teammate Chris Johnson said of the other backs, "Basically if you have the talent to make it here, you pretty much know how to read a defense and know how to run a ball, So there are not a lot of things I can tell him as far as how to run the ball. ... (It's) just making sure I let him know some of the things I did to learn the playbook quickly."
About adjusting to the NFL, Ringer said "It's definitely a lot more complicated than in college, definitely. But mainly it's just the play calling, it's a lot longer than what it was in college, but all-in-all it's just learning a whole new terminology, some things are similar, but it's the words that they use are different. So it's all about adjustment. A lot of intelligence out there, they don't make mistakes. They are pretty mature on what they are doing. I am trying to build up to that, because a lot of them are veterans and have been there for a while. They understand what is going on, and I am just trying to keep up and not make them look bad."
Titans running backs coach Earnest Byner said of Ringer “You can see the running skills, the things that we saw when we watched him at Michigan State, Good patience, good body lean, the ability to set the inside zones, acceleration, vision. Can he go in and compete on offense? Yes he can. With the way things are progressing, with the competition … that competition is going to make that third position much better." When describing the role of the 3rd string running back, Jeff Fisher said "The rotation is, for the most part, like it was last year, So the third running back will be called upon if the second back can’t play, and to be a good player on special teams." Ringer commented on the role, saying "Special teams can help you win or lose a game. My goal coming in here was to be a productive player anyway possible. If special teams is it then that will be it. I know that’s going to be a big deal. I know I’ll get my chance sooner or later.”
Ringer was the favorite for the 3rd string running back role, which he won.
Pre-season
The Titans were the first NFL team to play a preseason game, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
The Pro Football Hall of Game is an annual National Football League exhibition game that is held the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. The game is played at Fawcett Stadium, which is located next door to the Hall of Fame building in Canton, Ohio...
on August 9, 2009. Ringer played his NFL debut there. Ringer discussed the game earlier, saying, "I am very excited. I have never even been to an NFL game as a fan, so my first experience I am going to be playing in one, I am looking forward to it." Ringer had 4 carries for 14 yards, along with 2 catches for 9 yards, while the Titans won 21-18. On August 15, in a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Ringer lead the team in rushing with 7 attempts for 51 yards, including a 36 yard touchdown run. The Titans won 27-20. Ringer said of the run, " I saw a linebacker prepare to blitz, and I thought the offense was going to check out of the play. But as the cadence kept going, I realized we were going to run into that blitz". In a 10-30 loss against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, the first game in Cowboys Stadium, Ringer again led the team in rushing, this time with 33 yards on 5 attempts. He had what would have been a 17-yard touchdown run called back due to a penalty. He also had 2 catches for 6 yards, and averaged 34 yards on two kickoff return.
Ringer said after the game, referring to being drafted late "I think a lot of people thought I had a lot of wear and tear on me, too much, so they didn’t know how much I have left, I just kind of laughed it off. I still feel good, and I think because of all that I’ll never be complacent. I feel like I want to prove myself even more, and prove a lot of people wrong. Everything happens for a reason, though." Titans quarterback Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
said of Ringer "He is a good football player. Some guys are just football players, and Javon Ringer is a football player. He is patient, remarkably patient for a rookie running back. He sees blocking schemes well and has a good feel for when to cut back and when not to cut back. He has shown a lot of moves. I think the kid has a bright future.” Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck
Keith Bulluck
Keith J. Bulluck is an American Football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted 30th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse....
also said “He has an understanding of the game, you can tell by the cuts he makes at times. The way he runs, and the way that he pays attention. You don’t see the coaches get on him much for messing up, so that’s big for a rookie. I’ve been impressed.’’ Tackle Michael Roos
Michael Roos
Michael Roos is an American football offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-High school career:...
also added in, “He sees the block in progress, He can tell when a block is going to be made and he trusts that it will be made, so sometimes he is cutting before the block has even been made. You don’t see that a lot. A few people have that, and he has definitely got it. Hopefully he can get reps with the (first team) a little more and see where it goes from there.’’
Jim Wyatt, of the Tennesseean, reports that Ringer is the favorite for the 3rd string job, and almost a lock to make the roster. Fullback Ahmard Hall
Ahmard Hall
Ahmard Rashad Hall is an American football fullback for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He was originally signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Texas.-Early years:...
said “He’s a character guy, and you could tell that from the start, He’s the total package. You rarely get that combination of humility and natural athletic ability and I think he has that great combination. You combine those two and you get someone who could be unstoppable.’’ Of all the praise, Ringer responded, “I have to give credit to how I was brought up. I grew up in a religious family and I know without God none of this would be possible for me anyway, so that definitely keeps me humble. My personality is not to boast and brag about the accomplishments and things I am trying to do. Actions speak louder than words and that is what I try and strive for.’’ In a 17-23 loss to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ringer only had one run for two yards. Ringer finished off the pre-season with a 7 carry 18 yard performance, in a 27-13 win over the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
Ringer finished the pre-season with 24 carries for 118 yards, with one touchdown and 4 catches for 15 yards, ranking 27th among all NFL running backs for the preseason.
Regular Season
The Titans were also the first team to play in the Regular season, when they played the Steelers on September 10. Ringer was used to return kicks. In the 10-13 overtime loss, Ringer had 3 Kick Returns, a 19 yard average, including a long of 21 yards. He also played on special teams, and had one tackle. Ringer was again used as a kick returner, this time in a 31-34 loss to the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Ringer had 6 returns for a 20 yard average, with a long of 25, and no touchdowns. He also played on special teams, but had no tackles. In a 17-24 week 3 loss to the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ringer was benched as the kick returner, and, while active, did not play in the game. Ringer's kick return replacement, Ryan Mouton
Ryan Mouton
Ryan Mouton is an American football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
, had two fumbles during returns. Despite this, Titan's coach Jeff Fischer stood behind his decision to bench Ringer. In a 37-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ringer was again active, but only played as a reserve on special teams. Ringer was one of three Titans who did not register a stat. The Titans, who last year had 13 wins, only three losses, started the season out zero wins four losses. They had their fifth loss of the season in a 31-9 loss to the Colts, a game in which Ringer was once again active, but only played special teams, not registering a stat. Ringer was one of two Titans that did not record an offensive stat. In a record-breaking 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Ringer had his first NFL carries, having 7 carries for 47 yards (6.7 average), including a 32 yard run, for no touchdowns, all amounting in Garbage time
Garbage time
Garbage time, also known as "junk time", is a term used to refer to the period at the end of a timed sporting event that has become a blowout when the outcome of the game has already been decided, and the coaches of one or both teams will decide to replace their best players with substitutes...
. The Titans finished the game with negative 7 passing yards as their record moved to 0 wins 6 losses, putting them in a tie for the worst record in the NFL alongside the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Despite his performance in the loss, head coach Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
said that Chris Johnson and LenDale White will continue to get the majority of the carries. "There's not enough balls to go around. I wouldn't hesitate to put Ringer in if there's an issue," Fisher said. During a practice on October 28, 2009, Ringer injured his back and had to be carted off in an ambulance. Fisher said of the injury "It could be any number of things and it would be unfair for me to speculate right now. He is obviously in some pain." The call to the hospital was initially phoned to treat a potentially "traumatic" injury, but tests have revealed that the injury is "not considered serious". After spending a night with back problems, Ringer was released from the hospital early morning on October 29. Ringer's expected to miss a few weeks, as he's listed on the injury report with a back injury. Fisher commented on the injury, "We got some good news on Javon. He obviously didn’t practice today, but he’s going to be OK. We were really concerned about it. We feared the worst and we got good results," but would not elaborate as to the full extent of the injury. In a 30-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ringer was declared inactive before the game, and did not play. It was however, the Titans first victory of the season. In week 9, Ringer was again inactive and did not play. In week 10, Ringer was listed as questionable, but was declared inactive, and did not play. In a 20-17 win against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ringer was inactive, and did not play. In 20-17 win against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ringer was listed as the #2 running back. He had one yard on one carry. Ringer played because LenDale White, the team's usual #2 Running back, was benched due to being late to a team meeting. Ringer was then inactive for the rest of the season. Ringer finished the season with 8 attempts for 48 yards, playing in 7 games.
Post-Season
The Titans were eliminated from playoff contention with a week 16 loss to the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
2010
Titans starting running back Chris Johnson- who had the vast majority of the carries in 2009, rushing for over 2000 yards- will reportedly get less carries in 2010. This will likely mean in increase in number of carries for Ringer. Backup Running back LenDale White is an impending free agent, and his future with the team also has an impact on Ringer's future. During the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, White was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the team signing Stafon Johnson
Stafon Johnson
Stafon Johnson is a professional American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played football at USC.-Early years:...
and LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Montez Blount is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2010....
as undrafted free agents, Head coach Jeff Fischer has confirmed that Ringer will be the new #2 running back, stating "We have a terrific running back [in Chris Johnson], and a very talented backup in Javon." When Chris Johnson held out of training camp, Ringer took the first-string role. When discussing the #2 running back role, offensive coordinator, Mike Heimerdinger said, "[Ringer's] been really good in training camp. I have a lot of confidence in Javon, with everything he has shown. He has the ability to make some runs... There's no reason why he can't be that guy." During the first pre-season game of the 2010 season, Ringer led the team in rushing yards (60 yards, seven carries). Fullback Ahmad Hall said of Ringer "Everybody knew he was a great back last year... He really, really immersed himself in the playbook, and picked everything up. If anything happened to C.J. he could definitely fill in and execute well. He is a smart guy, and he applies himself. The guy is a good running back."
High school
- 3x all-conference Selection (2004, 2003, 2002)
- 3x All-Ohio Selection (2004, 2003, 2002)
- 4th in Mr. FootballMr. Football Award (Ohio)The Mr. Football Award has been given out annually since 1987 to the player voted by the Associated Press to be the best high school football player in the state of Ohio...
voting (2004)
College
- Sporting News Honorable mention Freshman All-American (2005)
- Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2005)
- Biggie MunnBiggie MunnClarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship...
Award (2006) - Big Ten Player of the Week (Week 5, 2007)
- Second Team All-Big Ten (2007)
- Michigan State team MVP (2007)
- Outstanding Underclass Back Award (2007)
- Clarence J. Underwood Jr. Sportsmanship Award (2007)
- College Football Preview Preseason third-team All-American (2008)
- College Football Preview Preseason first-team All-Big Ten (2008)
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Week 1, 2008)
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Week 2, 2008)
- Big Ten Tri-Player of the Week (Week 3, 2008)
- Sporting News First-team Midseason All-American (2008)
- SI.comSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
First-team Midseason All-American (2008) - CBSSports.comCBSSports.comCBSSports.com was founded in 1994 as SportsLine USA, and today is a CBS-owned website that provides sports scores, news, statistics, live and on-demand video, mobile apps, e-commerce, fantasy sports products, services, and information..Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, CBSSports.com it is...
First-team Midseason All-American (2008) - CollegeFootballNews.comCollege Football NewsCollege Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
First-team Midseason All-American (2008) - Rivals.comRivals.comRivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
First-team Midseason All-American (2008) - Phil Steele First-team Midseason All-American (2008)
- 10th place in HeismanHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting (2008) - Consensus First-Team All-Big Ten selection (Coaches) (2008)
- Consensus First-Team All-Big Ten Selection (Media) (2008)
- 3rd in Doak Walker awardDoak Walker AwardThe Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
voting (2008) - Maxwell AwardMaxwell AwardThe Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
semifinalist (2008) - Walter Camp AwardWalter Camp AwardThe Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
semifinalist (2008) - Associated Press First-Team All American (2008)
- Big Ten Player of the Year candidate (2008)
- College Football News Top 10 Player Race- 7th (2008)
- College Football All-American2008 College Football All-America TeamThe 2008 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American first teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports,...
(2008) - Michigan State team MVP (2008)
- Clarence J. Underwood Jr. Sportsmanship Award (2008)
- 2009 Senior Bowl2009 Senior BowlThe 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl was an all-star college football exhibition game featuring players from the 2008 college football season, and prospects for the 2009 Draft of the professional National Football League ....
invitee (Declined invite)