Player Career

Connor Heyward Career Story

Career story, signature performances, transfer context, and season arc are grouped for biography-style searches.

Player Story

Connor Heyward story

Connor Heyward built his college career from 2017 through 2021 as a running back from Duluth, GA wearing No. 11, spending time with Michigan State. The clearest part of Connor Heyward's career was his backfield work: 825 rushing yards, 211 carries, 5 rushing touchdowns, and 711 receiving yards across 45 career games in the available record. His largest box-score season came in 2018 with Michigan State. Those numbers show where he fit, how often the ball or action found him, and how his role developed over time.

The value of the career arc is that it connects production to role, not just a name on a roster. His career also includes 36 passing yards, 711 receiving yards, and 3 tackles, giving the story more than a single-category snapshot. With 45 career games in the available record, his career has enough shape to show both opportunity and production across Michigan State.

The arc is straightforward: Connor Heyward moved through the depth chart, found a larger role, and turned that opportunity into production that can be understood through standard football numbers.

Career Arc

Track team changes, role shifts, and season-to-season movement.

  1. 1

    Michigan State

    2017-2021

    Opening stop

Season Value Progression

20172017201820182019202020212021
SeasonTeamPrimaryEfficiencyUsageDelta
2017 PostseasonMichigan State2327.51.2
2017 Regular SeasonMichigan State2327.51.20
2018 PostseasonMichigan State77843.221755
2018 Regular SeasonMichigan State77843.2210
2019 Regular SeasonMichigan State13141.512.8-647
2020 Regular SeasonMichigan State27132.721.8140
2021 PostseasonMichigan State33361.95.662
2021 Regular SeasonMichigan State33361.95.60

Signature Performances

Top Games

#1 Featured game

@ Maryland

Week 10 · W 24-3 · Conference game

Win with 159 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

159

Scrimmage Yards

90.6 takeover

159 scrimmage yards and 28.1 usage.

#2

@ Nebraska

Week 12 · L 6-9 · Conference game

158

Scrimmage Yards

82.8 takeover

Loss driven by a workhorse rushing load.

158 scrimmage yards and 49.1 usage.

#3

vs Northwestern

Week 13 · W 29-20 · Conference game

105

Scrimmage Yards

80.2 takeover

Win driven by a workhorse rushing load.

105 scrimmage yards and 48.3 usage.

#4

vs Penn State

Week 13 · W 30-27 · Conference game

60

Scrimmage Yards

72.5 takeover

Win with 60 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

60 scrimmage yards and 6.1 usage.

#5

vs Tulsa

Week 1 · W 28-7

71

Scrimmage Yards

72.4 takeover

Win with 71 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

71 scrimmage yards and 29 usage.

Top Seasons

#1 Season by Season Value

2018 Postseason · Michigan State

778 primary output · 43.2 efficiency · 21 usage

61.8

#2

2018 Regular Season · Michigan State

61.8

778 primary · 43.2 efficiency · 21 usage

#3

2021 Postseason · Michigan State

44

333 primary · 61.9 efficiency · 5.6 usage

Milestones

1

100+ rush yards

2

150+ scrimmage yards

3

2+ TD games