Stanley, whose father is a minister, said he gets his religious influence from him, and any chance he gets, goes home to Saginaw to attend church. It is Stanley's mother, however, who he gets his quiet personality from - a trait he likes about himself.

"My mother is very humble, so I get that from her," Stanley said. "It's a good thing. In everything I do I try to be humble and not be boisterous about it."

Janet Stanley, his r, was diagnosed with cancer in Stanley's freshman year at MSU. Her ability to be strong through a tough time helped Stanley on and off the field, while his faith led him to know she would be all right.

"I had it in the back of my mind," Stanley said. "I told myself, I'm going to go out there and give it my all for my family. I was content because I knew she was going to be all right. I knew God would spare her. God just gave me a sense of peace about the whole situation."

With his mother's health improving, Stanley is looking to finish a successful career at MSU in football and in the classroom.

The 6-foot, 234-pounder has been a starter the last four seasons in East Lansing, becoming only the fifth player in Spartan history to be named a two-time captain. In addition, he has finished in the top three on the team in tackles the last two years and was named second-team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News and Football News in 2001.

"He's very instinctive and he does a lot of things you don't have to coach," MSU linebackers coach Mike Cox said. "He recognizes plays a lot easier than some guys. I think he is a very good player and he's a hard worker."

In his freshman year, Stanley started 10 of 12 games and helped the Spartans to a 7-5 record, including a Silicon Valley Classic Bowl win over Fresno State. In 2002, his sophomore year, Stanley stayed focused through the Jeff Smoker suspension, head coach Bobby Williams' firing and numerous other team issues that resulted in turmoil. And last season it was back to success for Stanley, who led the team as a captain to the Alamo Bowl with new head coach John L. Smith.

This past weekend Stanley was again leading the way, registering 19 tackles against Rutgers?- 10 more than any other Spartan. While MSU lost, Smith said Stanley did what he always does - play hard.

"Ron Stanley was a warrior," Smith said. "I don't know how many tackles he had, but I thought he played hard."

Stanley has also been working hard in the classroom. The criminal justice senior is on pace to graduate in December, completing his education in three-and-a-half years. Cox said he is a leader off the field as well, citing that Stanley is never late for study table and always attends class.

I (will graduate) in three-and-a-half years and that's not easy," Stanley said. "Sometimes, I ask myself how I did it."

Aside from class and football, Stanley doesn't do much according to his roommates and teammates, junior safety Eric Smith and junior linebacker Seth Mitchell. Smith said he is usually talking on the phone or watching television.

"Sometimes we make fun of him because he stays in his room a lot, but he's a fun person to be around," Mitchell said. "He's a great person."

Mitchell, Stanley's roommate for three years now, may know him better than anyone else on the team. Mitchell says Stanley is a quiet person away from football, but a different person on the field.

"He's kind of like two totally different people on the field and off the field," Mitchell said. "On the field he's talkative, energetic and just flies around the field. Off the field he is quiet, calm and to himself."

Not a very highly recruited player out of Saginaw High School, Stanley said he has tried to make the most of his stay in East Lansing. His hard work, leadership and personality are typical of what it takes to be a good linebacker, Cox said.

"He's got a toughness about him," Cox said. "He comes from a great family and he's a hard working, blue-collar type of guy."