Caulcrick can be a bruising runner who consistently gains yards when he gets in a groove, as in the fourth quarter of MSU's 38-25 win against Illinois last Saturday. Caulcrick gained 52 rushing yards on 11 carries and ate up a lot of clock in that quarter.

But Teague's consistency and lunch-pail mentality set the tone, putting Caulcrick and senior DeAndra Cobb - a speedster who also sees time at running back - in situations where they will succeed, Smith said.

MSU's running attack has exceeded most expectations so far this season. The Spartans finished last in the Big Ten in rushing last season with 97.4 rushing yards per game.

The Spartans (3-3 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) have added almost 100 yards to that average this year and are second in the Big Ten in rushing with 194.3 yards per game.

"I always thought that we could run the ball around here," Teague said. "Last year, we didn't run the ball a lot, and this year, we're running it and we're getting the job done. I knew it could happen."

Teague is MSU's second-leading rusher, behind sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton, going into this weekend's homecoming game against Minnesota (5-1, 2-1).

He has 312 yards on 79 carries, for a 3.9-yard average, and two rushing touchdowns. He also is third in receptions with 15 and has caught one touchdown.

Tangibles such as statistics do not measure Teague's importance.

"Guys will see DeAndra with great speed, they'll see Jehuu with the power," Mitchell said, "but Jason, every day, when you see him in a game, you'd have to be a coach to truly appreciate all the things that he does."

Teague's hold on the starting running back position can be traced back to spring football, when Caulcrick and Cobb seemed like the perfect combination of running backs for MSU with their size and speed. That scenario, of course, left Teague out.

"Jason, I really believe, coming in this fall, made up his mind that he was going to do everything he could do to be our guy," Smith said.

That meant improving on the less-glamorous skills Smith demands of his running backs, particularly picking up blitzes so the quarterback has enough time to throw.

MSU's coaches aren't the only ones to notice Teague's work ethic and positive attitude.

When Cobb and Caulcrick were establishing themselves as MSU's future backs last spring, senior bandit Tyrell Dortch said he was trying to keep Teague in the fold.

"I told you guys last spring, earlier in the summer - Teague is an explosive back," Dortch said. "You don't really hear much buzz about Jason Teague. But he's a good back; he deserves it. He's doing everything we've asked of him this year, and I think he should get that recognition."