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2.9k voters

The Best Penn State Football Players of All Time

Updated May 22, 2020 27.0k votes 2.9k voters 54.6k views94 items

List RulesUpvote the best Penn State football players based ONLY on their time at Penn State.

For years, Penn State was known as one of the great bastions of Northeastern football. Located in State College, PA, the school is known for having some of the greatest college football teams in NCAA history. Some of the best college football players of all time have emerged from the school that's nicknamed "Linebacker U."

The storied history of Penn State has resulted in national championships and a loyal, devoted fan and alumni base who proudly call themselves "Penn Staters." However, the players aren't slouches either. Franco Harris and Jack Ham are two Hall of Fame players who attended Penn State and were forces on the gridiron in both college and the NFL. In the 1990s, players like Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, and Kyle Brady bridged the program's success into the next generation, while the 2000s saw running back Larry Johnson carry the team to greatness.

Who are the best players in Penn State history? Well, that depends on who you ask. If you like hard-nosed, rugged football, you'll pick a defensive player. Though knowing Penn State's football history, if you like that brand of football, you may select an offensive lineman who paved the way for the team's star players to find success.

This is the list of the best Penn State football players of all time. Vote or re-rank the list according to how you see fit. Feel free to add any Penn State players who aren't already listed below. Then head over and check out the best Penn State wide receivers ever.

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806
242
Jack Ham
Linebacker
Birthplace: Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Age: 67
Teams: Penn State Nittany Lions football
More Jack Ham
#6 of 127 The Best Pittsburgh Steelers of All Time#2 of 57 The Best Pittsburgh Steelers Linebackers of All Time
2
880
280
Franco Harris
More Franco Harris
#69 of 77 The Best Athletes Who Have Used Performance Enhancing Drugs#9 of 27 The Best NFL Running Backs of the 70s
3
1,264
249
Saquon Barkley
Running back
Teams: New York Giants
4
530
151
John Cappelletti
Running back
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age: 68
Teams: Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers
5
662
202
Paul Posluszny
Linebacker
Birthplace: Butler, Pennsylvania
Age: 31
Teams: Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Penn State Nittany Lions football
More Paul Posluszny
#7 of 114 The Best Jacksonville Jaguars of All Time#12 of 70 The Best Buffalo Bills Linebackers of All Time
6
770
246
LaVar Arrington
7
355
68
Lenny Moore
Running back, Wide receiver
Birthplace: Reading, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 82
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#21 of 147 The Best Indianapolis Colts of All Time#11 of 21 The Best Indianapolis Colts Running Backs of All Time
8
705
216
Sean Lee
Linebacker
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Age: 34
Teams: Penn State Nittany Lions football, Dallas Cowboys
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#341 of 1,323 The Best Football Players Ever#150 of 432 The Greatest Defenders in NFL History
9
571
169
Curt Warner
Running back
Birthplace: Wyoming, West Virginia
Age: 59
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams
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#22 of 22 The Best 80s College Running Backs#16 of 213 The Best Seattle Seahawks of All Time
10
556
156
Allen Robinson
Wide Receiver
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Teams: Chicago Bears
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#111 of 214 The Best Wide Receivers of All Time#63 of 144 The Greatest Chicago Bears of All Time
11
509
151
Ki-Jana Carter
Running back
Birthplace: Westerville, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 47
12
307
62
Lydell Mitchell
Running back
Birthplace: Salem, New Jersey
Age: 71
13
386
97
Shane Conlan
Linebacker
Birthplace: Frewsburg, New York
Age: 56

14
477
144
Kerry Collins
Quarterback
Birthplace: Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 43
Teams: New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, Penn State Nittany Lions football, Carolina Panthers
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#112 of 120 The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time#66 of 73 The Best Quarterbacks to Never Win a Super Bowl
15
391
92
Trace McSorley
16
525
160
Larry Johnson
Running back
Birthplace: Pomfret, Maryland, Maryland, United States of America
Age: 40
Teams: Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Penn State Nittany Lions football, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs
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#76 of 206 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time#47 of 86 The Best NFL Players From Pennsylvania
17
314
75
Mike Munchak
Left Guard
Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Age: 60
Teams: Houston Oilers, Penn State Nittany Lions football
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#14 of 80 The Best Tennessee Titans of All Time#11 of 19 The Best Tennessee Titans Coaches of All Time
18
493
154
Tamba Hali
Defensive end, Linebacker
Birthplace: Gbarnga, Liberia
Age: 36
Teams: Penn State Nittany Lions football, Kansas City Chiefs
19
338
89
Steve Wisniewski
Offensive Lineman, Guard
Birthplace: Rutland City, Vermont
Age: 48
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#13 of 18 The Best Athletes Who Wore #76#1 of 3 The Best NFL Players From Vermont
20
501
164
NaVorro Bowman
Linebacker
Birthplace: District Heights, Maryland
Age: 32
Teams: San Francisco 49ers
21
350
106
Matt Millen
Linebacker
Birthplace: Hokendauqua, Pennsylvania
Age: 57
Teams: Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, Penn State Nittany Lions football, San Francisco 49ers
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#155 of 322 People Who Should Be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame#46 of 154 The Greatest Linebackers of All Time
22
238
64
Blair Thomas
Running back
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age: 52
23
374
122
Cameron Wake
Defensive end, Linebacker
Birthplace: Beltsville, Maryland
Age: 33
Teams: Tennessee Titans

24
280
86
Todd Blackledge
Quarterback
Birthplace: Canton, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 59
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25
233
52
Rosey Grier

Saquon Barkley

Curt Warner

Ki-Jana Carter

Trace McSorley