The 25 best players in Penn State football history

We’re digging deep into the annals of Penn State soccer. Again within the early Twenties, Wilson was among the many true stars of the sport. Wilson was nicknamed “Lighthorse Harry,” due to his pace and fast spurts. Throughout a 1923 sport versus Navy, the School Soccer Corridor of Famer recorded landing runs of 95, 80 and 55 yards. When his three-year taking part in profession at Penn State ended, Wilson truly starred for Military from 1924-’27.

Moore performed simply 27 video games throughout his three-year varsity profession at Penn State however scored 24 touchdowns. He additionally totaled 2,380 speeding yards, which, coming into the 2022 season, ranked 14th all-time at school historical past. He posted 12 video games of not less than 100 speeding yards and recorded 3,543 all-purpose yards, 1,486 of which got here in the course of the 1954 season — a faculty file on the time. Moore’s 7.96 common yards per carry from ’54 nonetheless sits as No. 2 in Nittany Lions’ historical past. Contemplating the variety of nice, virtually legendary, working backs Penn State has produced, Moore’s legacy has greater than stood the check of time.

Generally known as “Riverboat Richie,” for his tendency to gamble and take probabilities on the sphere. Throughout the 1959 season, Lucas ran for 325 yards, handed for 913 and 5 touchdowns. Lucas additionally averaged 34.0 yards per punt and picked off 5 passes, whereas taking part in protection for the Nittany Lions. That very same season, Lucas gained the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s high participant, and was runner-up within the Heisman Trophy voting. He was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1986.

A member of each the School and Professional Soccer Corridor of Fames, Robinson was a two-way standout for the Nittany Lions in the course of the early Sixties. Robinson’s most memorable season got here in 1962 when he was named an All-American and the faculty participant of the yr by the Newark Athletic Membership. That season, Robinson caught 17 passes for 178 yards and was a dominant drive on the Penn State defensive entrance. Throughout his profession in Completely satisfied Valley, the Nittany Lions went 24-8 and gained two bowl video games.

A School Soccer Corridor of Famer, Ressler is likely one of the most versatile linemen in Penn State historical past. Although he is seemingly greatest recognized among the many sport’s greatest facilities, Ressler additionally performed on the Nittany Lions defensive position throughout his time in Completely satisfied Valley. Throughout Penn State’s 26-0 upset win over No. 1 Ohio State in 1963, Ressler was credited with 15 solo tackles. The subsequent season, Ressler gained the Maxwell Award.

Kwalick is Penn State’s first two-time All-American, and his 1,343 receiving yards — second-most amongst Nittany Lions tight ends — and 10 receiving touchdowns nonetheless rank among the many program’s all-time leaders. For his profession, Kwalick caught 86 passes, which additionally stays among the many greatest pass-catchers at school historical past. Kwalick, a three-time Professional Bowler and Tremendous Bowl XI champion with the Oakland Raiders, was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2005. 

There are a number of faculties that declare to be “Linebacker U,” however Penn State might need probably the most proof to make the case stand. Onkotz is often thought-about the Nittany Lions’ first star linebacker, and his 287 profession tackles rank eighth all-time at school historical past. The 118 he recorded in 1967 are the Tenth-most in a season at Penn State; the two-time All-American and School Soccer Corridor of Famer additionally posted 11 interceptions — probably the most of any Penn State linebacker and tied for Tenth total at school historical past. Onkotz additionally averaged 13.2 yards per 47 profession punt returns — ninth-best in this system.

Earlier than Reid was a Grammy Award-winning nation music artist and composer, he gained each the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s high inside lineman and Maxwell Award, because the nation’s greatest total participant, in 1969 for Penn State. That season, Reid, chosen crew captain for a second consecutive marketing campaign, posted 89 tackles for the undefeated Nittany Lions. The All-American, who additionally wrestled throughout his time at Penn State, was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1987.

A member of each the School and Professional Soccer Corridor of Fames, Ham’s total legacy was made whereas profitable 4 Tremendous Bowls and incomes six first-team All-Professional nods with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the inspiration for that success was laid at Penn State, the place Ham was an All-American and recorded greater than 200 tackles — and over 140 of the solo selection. Throughout his time as a collegian, Penn State went 29-3, with a pair of undefeated seasons (1968 and ’69).

Mitchell helped usher in a resurgence of distinguished Penn State working backs, starting within the early Nineteen Seventies. He completed fifth within the 1971 Heisman Trophy voting for posting a school-record 1,567 yards and 29 touchdowns (an NCAA file on the time). The All-American’s 2,934 speeding yards rank ninth all-time at Penn State, whereas the 38 touchdowns Mitchell scored on the bottom additionally sit among the many college’s profession leaders. Mitchell was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2004.

Talking of the Heisman Trophy, Cappelletti continues to be the one Nittany Lion to win the coveted faculty soccer award. And who can neglect his touching acceptance speech devoted to his dying youthful brother, Joey? That got here in the course of the 1973 season, when Cappelletti, who started his Penn State varsity profession as a defensive again, rushed for 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns for the 12-0 squad. It is the fourth-highest speeding whole at school historical past. It needs to be famous that Cappelletti ran for 1,117 and 12 touchdowns in 1972. Cappelletti’s 2,639 yards are Twelfth on Penn State’s profession speeding record, whereas his 29 touchdowns are tied for seventh. Along with the Heisman, the School Soccer Corridor of Famer gained the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards.

Whereas Millen earned his cash and gained 4 Tremendous Bowls within the NFL as a linebacker, he was an All-American-caliber defensive lineman for the Nittany Lions. Millen is sixth all-time at school historical past with 22 sacks and tied for Twelfth with 36 profession tackles for loss. He additionally pressured six fumbles throughout his stellar three-year profession at Penn State, which ranks among the many high 10 in program historical past. All spectacular numbers for a reasonably undersized member of the Nittany Lions defensive entrance.

One other Nittany Lions working again who’s a member of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. Although time has handed, Warner’s title stays littered prominently within the Penn State soccer file ebook. His 3,398 speeding yards are third all-time at school historical past, whereas his 18 video games of not less than 100 yards on the bottom stay probably the most from any Nittany Lion. Warner, who ran for not less than 1,000 in each 1981 and ’82, earned first-team All-American honors as a junior, then a yr later, helped Penn State win the nationwide championship to conclude the 1982 marketing campaign.

Penn State’s “Linebacker U” persona continued with Conlan, the epitome of the hard-nosed, find-the-ball-at-any-cost defender. The School Soccer Corridor of Famer ranks among the many college’s leaders with 274 profession tackles, together with 186 solos. Throughout his All-American season in 1986, Conlan saved his efficiency for the Nittany Lions’ 14-10 victory over Miami, Fla., within the Fiesta Bowl to say the nationwide championship. He recorded eight tackles and two interceptions, the second of which arrange Penn State’s profitable landing.

A key member of Penn State’s nationwide championship group from 1986, Wisniewski was a two-time All-American (1986, ’87) guard. Standing 6-foot-4 and tipping the scales at a little bit greater than 300 kilos, Wisniewski was a large presence on the inside of the Nittany Lions offensive line. Although he didn’t take residence a lot notable particular person {hardware} as a collegian, Wisniewski went on to take pleasure in a stellar NFL profession, incomes eight Professional Bowl nods and two-first All-Professional choices with the Raiders, each in Los Angeles and Oakland.

One other within the lengthy line of stellar Penn State working backs, Carter entered the 2022 season ranked Tenth on the varsity’s profession speeding record with 2,829 yards. His huge season got here in 1994, when he ran for 1,539 yards (third-most at Penn State for a single season) and 23 touchdowns (ranks second at school historical past) whereas incomes consensus All-American standing and serving to the Nittany Lions to a 12-0 file. Carter, who completed second within the Heisman voting in ’94, additionally ranks fourth all-time at Penn State with 34 speeding touchdowns.

Collins loved a particular season in 1994, throwing for two,679 passing yards (eighth-most at school historical past) and 21 touchdowns (tied for seventh). His 66.7 completion share stays one of the best at Penn State for a single season and another excuse Collins was named Large Ten Offensive Participant of the 12 months and gained the Maxwell Award, amongst different nationwide recognition. Collins, who ranks among the many college’s all-time leaders in passing yards (5,304), landing passes (39), and completion share (56.3), was a 2018 inductee of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Engram has the glory of being the inaugural winner of the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s high collegian receiver. Engram gained the award in 1994 when he led the undefeated Nittany Lions with 52 receptions for 1,029 yards and 7 touchdowns whereas averaging 19.8 yards per catch. The subsequent yr, Engram set profession highs with 63 catches for 1,084 and scored 11 occasions. Engram, a three-time All-Large Ten decide and All-American, is Penn State’s all-time chief in receiving yards (3,026) and receiving touchdowns (31). His 13 TDs from 1993 are additionally a single-season excessive from a Nittany Lions receiver. His 3,904 profession all-purpose yards (together with 862 returning and 155 speeding) rank eighth at Penn State.

One other two-time All-American (1994, ’95). Hartings earned first-team honors in 1995 as among the finest offensive guards within the nation. Throughout Hartings’ time in Completely satisfied Valley, the Nittany Lions went 38-10 and gained a Large Ten championship and three bowl video games, highlighted by the 1995 Rose Bowl. Hartings then went on to take pleasure in a profitable NFL profession, the place he was a first-team All-Professional (2004) and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win Tremendous Bowl XL.

Brown’s NFL profession by no means panned out as the general No. 1 decide within the 2000 NFL Draft, however there is no denying the legacy he left at Penn State. The 2-time All-Large Ten first-teamer nonetheless stays the Nittany Lions’ all-time chief with 33 sacks and 70 tackles for loss. In 1999, Brown recorded 13 1/2 of these sacks (fourth-most at Penn State for a season) and a school-record 29 tackles for loss en path to profitable each the Large Ten Defensive Lineman and Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Whereas additionally a consensus All-American.

At 6-foot-3 and greater than 250 kilos, Arrington was fairly the bodily specimen at Penn State, then throughout his time within the NFL. Arrington was the primary Nittany Lion to win the Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s high linebacker. That got here in 1999, when he additionally gained the Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s greatest defensive participant, for recording 20 tackles for loss. For his profession, the two-time All-American totaled 39 tackles for loss — tied for eighth at school historical past. His 19 profession sacks are tied for eleventh.

Positive, Johnson’s legacy at Penn State is perhaps primarily based on the ultimate of his 4 seasons in Completely satisfied Valley, but it surely was actually one for the ages. Johnson recorded 2,087 of his 2,953 profession speeding yards as a senior in 2002. That effort produced probably the most speeding yards by any Nittany Lion for a single season and paved the best way for Johnson to win the Maxwell, Walter Camp, and Doak Walker Awards. He additionally ran for a school-record 327 yards in opposition to Indiana in 2002, plus 279 every versus Illinois and Michigan State, and 257 in opposition to Northwestern that yr. Johnson ranks eighth on the varsity’s all-time speeding record.

Discuss having a knack for locating the ball service. Not many did it higher than Posluszny, whose 372 profession tackles rank second in Penn State historical past. He posted 116 every in the course of the 2005 and ’06 campaigns. Posluszny gained the Bednarik Award and is the second Nittany Lion to be honored with the Butkus Award (2005). A two-time consensus All-American, Posluszny posted 22 tackles in opposition to Northwestern that very same 2005 season.

It’d come as a shock to the informal faculty soccer fan to study that Connor is the all-time main tackler at Penn State. In actual fact, the two-time, first-team All-Large Ten choice and All-American is the one Nittany Lion to file not less than 400 tackles — 419, to be actual. His 145 from 2007 rank second at school historical past for a single season. That was clearly an enormous motive Connor gained the Bednarik Award, choosing up the place the aforementioned Paul Posluszny left off.

The 2-time Large Ten Offensive Participant of the 12 months and consensus All-American (2017), Barkley ran for 3,843 profession yards throughout his Penn State profession. Second solely to Evan Royster’s 3,932 within the annals of Nittany Lions historical past. Barkley’s 1,496 speeding yards from 2016 rank fifth for a season at Penn State, whereas his 1,271, recorded one yr later, are Twelfth-best on the college. Barkley can also be Penn State’s chief with 43 profession speeding touchdowns, together with 18 apiece in 2016 and ’17.