Penn State Football: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Penn State's football program boasts a rich history filled with exceptional talent and remarkable achievements. From Hall of Famers to record-breaking performers, numerous Nittany Lions have left an indelible mark on the sport. This article explores some of the most notable alumni who have donned the blue and white, showcasing their contributions to Penn State and the wider world of football.

Offensive Powerhouses

Saquon Barkley: An Electrifying Force

Considered by many as the most electrifying player to ever grace Happy Valley, Saquon Barkley's time at Penn State was nothing short of legendary. During his three years as a Nittany Lion, Barkley consistently defied expectations, producing highlight-reel moments that will forever be etched in Penn State lore. Despite fading from Heisman Trophy contention during his junior season, there was no doubt that Barkley was the nation's best overall player. Barkley's impact extended beyond the field, making Penn State attractive to recruits. Barkley is the school’s second all-time leading rusher with 3,843 yards, despite only spending three years at Penn State, and was the focal point of the two best offenses the program has had in the last decade - 2016 and 2017.

Allen Robinson: From Doubted Recruit to Star Receiver

Despite initial skepticism surrounding his commitment, Allen Robinson blossomed into arguably the best wide receiver in Penn State history. Robinson exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, recording 1,078 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He followed that up by setting single-season school records for receptions and receiving yards, solidifying his status as a game-changing player.

Trace McSorley: Grit and Determination

Trace McSorley's journey to becoming Penn State's starting quarterback was far from certain. However, he quickly proved his mettle, leading a magical Big Ten Championship campaign in his first year as a starter. McSorley continued to accumulate wins, earning the adoration of fans and cementing his place as one of the most beloved players in program history. His mesmerizing performance against Ohio State in 2018 exemplified his unwavering grit. McSorley left Penn State as the all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns and was fifth all-time in rushing touchdowns.

Ki-Jana Carter

Another in the long line of stellar Penn State running backs, Carter rushed for a career 2,829 yards. His big season came in 1994, when he ran for 1,539 yards (third-most at Penn State for a single season) and 23 touchdowns (ranks second in school history) while earning consensus All-American status and helping the Nittany Lions to a 12-0 record.

Bobby Engram

Engram has the honor of being the inaugural winner of the Biletnikoff Award, given to the country's top collegian receiver. Engram won the award in 1994 when he led the undefeated Nittany Lions with 52 receptions for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 19.8 yards per catch. The next year, Engram set career highs with 63 catches for 1,084 and scored 11 times. Engram, a three-time All-Big Ten pick and All-American, is Penn State's all-time leader in receiving yards (3,026) and receiving touchdowns (31). His 13 TDs from 1993 are also a single-season high from a Nittany Lions receiver.

Curtis Enis

Enis may have spent some time in the JoePa doghouse, but he also spent a lot of time punishing defenses.

Larry Johnson

How did LJ start just one season again? His 2002 season was historic: A school-record 2,087 yards for 20 touchdowns and a 7.7 yards-per-carry average. Even Barry Sanders, in his magical 1988 season with Oklahoma State, averaged only 7.6.

Blair Thomas

To this day, Thomas is the only Penn State running back to finish with two 1,300-yard rushing seasons. (Saquon Barkley came up 29 yards short last season of matching the feat.) Known for finding the hole, even if it was on the right side on a play designed to go left, Thomas was consistently a force.

John Cappelletti

Other backs have had more touchdowns, more yards and a better yards-per-carry average, but there's one important thing they don't have - the Heisman. Cappelletti won Penn State's lone Heisman Trophy in 1973 and had his No. 22 jersey retired five years ago - the first Penn State athlete so honored.

Lydell Mitchell

Mitchell's 1971 season and school-record 26 rushing touchdowns might never be topped. His 1,567 rushing yards that season also remained a single-season record until 23 years later when Ki-Jana Carter came around.

Daryll Clark

Collins enjoyed a special season in 1994, throwing for 2,679 passing yards (eighth-most in school history) and 21 touchdowns (tied for seventh). His 66.7 completion percentage remains the best at Penn State for a single season and another reason Collins was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and won the Maxwell Award, among other national recognition.

DJ Dozier

Used primarily as a blocker his freshman season, Harris then established himself as a grueling runner who seemed destined for greatness. For his career, Harris rushed for a little more than 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. During the 1970 season, he led the team in scoring. Mitchell helped usher in a resurgence of prominent Penn State running backs, beginning in the early 1970s. He finished fifth in the 1971 Heisman Trophy voting for posting a school-record 1,567 yards and 29 touchdowns (an NCAA record at the time). The All-American's 2,934 rushing yards rank ninth all-time at Penn State, while the 38 touchdowns Mitchell scored on the ground also sit among the school's career leaders.

Chris Godwin: A Perfect Fit

Godwin was thrust into action as a true freshman due to scholarship restrictions. He seized the opportunity, delivering a breakout performance during the Pinstripe Bowl and never looking back. Godwin proved to be the ideal successor to Allen Robinson, possessing the ability to dominate games and consistently win matchups against elite defensive backs. His value was evident to any Penn State fan, and he has since developed into one of the NFL's premier wide receivers. Godwin finished his career top 10 in school history in receiving yards and receptions, and top five in receiving touchdowns. But most importantly, he had his best year in Franklin’s best year. He was the leading receiver on the 2016 team, finishing with 59 catches for 982 yards and 11 touchdowns, and was clearly McSorley’s favorite target.

Jahan Dotson

If Godwin isn’t the best receiver of the era, then Jahan Dotson is. Dotson shined bright in two difficult seasons for the Nittany Lions, accumulating 2,066 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns in 2020 and 2021, his final two years on campus. He has the second most receptions in school history, and is top five in both receiving yards (2,757) and receiving touchdowns (25). His 242-yard performance against Maryland in 2021 also set the program record for receiving yards in a single game. And it helps that in his final two games against Ohio State, Dotson caught 19 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns.

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Mike Gesicki

Gesicki had two seasons with over 500 receiving yards, including 679 yards on the 2016 team, and was an elite threat in the red zone for the Nittany Lions. His nine touchdowns as a senior also set the program record receiving touchdowns in a season.

Pat Freiermuth

While Gesicki has the record for touchdowns by a tight end in a season, Pat Freiermuth owns it for a career. The former Nittany Lion was a security blanket for Sean Clifford when he was at Penn State, totaling 16 receiving touchdowns - 15 of which came in his first two seasons. Freiermuth’s career totals were hampered by an injury that limited him to four games in his final season, but his blocking ability helps put him in the conversation with Gesicki, even if it doesn’t put him over the top.

K.J. Hamler

Another wide receiver makes the list and this time it’s one of the fastest to ever play for Franklin. K.J. Hamler didn’t have the size of a prototypical No. 1 option, but he made up for it with his speed and ability to make defenders miss in the open field. He only played for two seasons after redshirting in his first year, but he produced at a high level during both. He had at least 750 yards and five touchdowns in both seasons and finished with 98 receptions as he quickly became the top target in the offense in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

DaeSean Hamilton

While Godwin gets the most notoriety among the early Franklin-era receivers, DaeSean Hamilton was the most productive. He’s first all-time at Penn State in receptions (214).

Kenny Jackson

When thinking of great Penn State wide receivers, it’s easy to get lots in the Chris Godwins, Allen Robinsons, and DaeSean Hamiltons of the world. Butler left Penn State as its all-time leader in receptions, a record that was later broken by Hamilton. Butler went on to find success in the NFL as well. The Seattle Seahawks selected him in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft at No. 91.

Strange Story

Washington never had the stats that the other four players had because he only had legitimate playing time in his final season. He originally committed to Penn State-Beaver and played a season of basketball there. Later, a coach pushed him to walk onto the main campus football team as a wide receiver. He did and wound up recording with 11 receptions, 194 yards, and a touchdown in his final season. That final go-around was the most football he had ever played in his life. Plus, he managed to win a national championship with the 1982 team.

Matt McGloin

McGloin became one of the most notable walk-ons in all of college football when he emerged as the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback in 2010 after walking on in 2009. It wasn’t until his final season, however, that he really shined. In that fateful season, he led the Big Ten with a program-record 270 completions, 3,271 yards passing yards, and 24 touchdowns. He later won the Burlsworth Trophy, which is annually presented to the best college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Kyle Brady

Kwalick is Penn State's first two-time All-American, and his 1,343 receiving yards -- second-most among Nittany Lions tight ends -- and 10 receiving touchdowns still rank among the program's all-time leaders. For his career, Kwalick caught 86 passes, which also remains among the best pass-catchers in school history.

Defensive Stalwarts

Micah Parsons: A Dominant Force

Parsons made an immediate impact, leading the team in tackles as a true freshman despite not being a starter. Parsons was an elite pass rusher and was set to have an all-time season in 2020 before opting out. Still, he was all over the field for the Nittany Lions and finished his sophomore season with 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, five passes defended and four forced fumbles. That, and he had the same type of off-field impact that Saquon Barkley did on offense.

Paul Posluszny

Talk about having a knack for finding the ball carrier. Not many did it better than Posluszny, whose 372 career tackles rank second in Penn State history. He posted 116 each during the 2005 and '06 campaigns. Posluszny won the Bednarik Award and is the second Nittany Lion to be honored with the Butkus Award (2005).

Dan Connor

It might come as a surprise to the casual college football fan to learn that Connor is the all-time leading tackler at Penn State. In fact, the two-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection and All-American is the only Nittany Lion to record at least 400 tackles -- 419, to be exact. His 145 from 2007 rank second in school history for a single season.

Jack Ham

A member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames, Ham's overall legacy was made while winning four Super Bowls and earning six first-team All-Pro nods with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, the foundation for that success was laid at Penn State, where Ham was an All-American and recorded more than 200 tackles -- and over 140 of the solo variety.

Shane Conlan

Penn State's "Linebacker U" persona continued with Conlan, the epitome of the hard-nosed, find-the-ball-at-any-cost defender. The College Football Hall of Famer ranks among the school's leaders with 274 career tackles, including 186 solos. During his All-American season in 1986, Conlan saved his performance for the Nittany Lions' 14-10 victory over Miami, Fla., in the Fiesta Bowl to claim the national championship. 1987 NFL Draft, first round, Buffalo Bills -- Conlan played six seasons for the Bills (1987-1992) and three seasons for the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1993-95). He played in three consecutive Super Bowls with the Bills and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

LaVar Arrington

At 6-foot-3 and more than 250 pounds, Arrington was quite the physical specimen at Penn State, then during his time in the NFL. Arrington was the first Nittany Lion to win the Butkus Award, honoring the nation's top linebacker. That came in 1999, when he also won the Bednarik Award, given to the country's best defensive player, for recording 20 tackles for loss. For his career, the two-time All-American totaled 39 tackles for loss -- tied for eighth in school history.

NaVorro Bowman

Mauti would be among the top three if not for three torn ACLs during his time at Penn State, but his total contributions to the program can never be measured. He was Linebacker U.’s top linebacker of the decade and was the leader that the program desperately needed during the most tumultuous time in program history. When he was on the field he could do it all, making play after play to lead a standout defense at a time when the team’s success largely depended on keeping the opponents point total at a very low number.

Devon Still: Shutting Down the Trenches

Still's ability to dominate the trenches was instrumental in Penn State's defensive success in 2011. His contributions helped the defense shut down opponents, often ending plays before they had a chance to develop. Still is certainly among the legendary figures to play along the Nittany Lions' defensive line.

Sharrif Floyd

Gross-Matos showed flashes of his potential as a true freshman, then became one of the best defensive ends in the nation the following two years before declaring for the NFL Draft. Opposing offenses knew what he was capable of, but were routinely powerless to stop him. And when they focused on slowing him down, it opened the door for one or more of his counterparts to have a huge game. Whenever Gross-Matos was on the field, the sacks and TFLs piled up.

Carl Nassib: An Unstoppable Force

Nassib's story is one of the most remarkable of any Penn State player. After joining the team as a walk-on, he exploded onto the scene in 2015, becoming the most dominant defensive lineman in college football. Nassib was nearly unstoppable, racking up 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, leading the nation in both categories, despite missing three games due to injury. Nassib’s stellar play in 2015 helped him win the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Hendricks, and Lombardi Awards. His impressive college career helped him make his way to the NFL later on. In 2016, Nassib was selected in the third round by the Cleveland Browns.

Bruce Clark

Robinson was a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames, Robinson was a two-way standout for the Nittany Lions during the early 1960s. Robinson's most memorable season came in 1962 when he was named an All-American and the college player of the year by the Newark Athletic Club. That season, Robinson caught 17 passes for 178 yards and was a dominant force on the Penn State defensive front.

Ji'Ayir Brown

Ji’Ayir Brown started his career at Lackawanna College before transferring to Penn State, but once he joined the Nittany Lions his ability was evident. He finished the 2021 season tied for first in the Football Bowl Subdivision with six interceptions before adding another four in 2022. While the interception production dropped slightly in that final year, he showed off the versatility that made him elite, earning seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown.

Jaquan Brisker

Jaquan Brisker was a heavy hitter who made plays in the running game, intimidated receivers but also quickly diagnosed what was happening in front of him to make an impact against the pass. He finished his Nittany Lion career with 14 passes defended, 10 tackles for loss and five interceptions, and helped establish the team’s defense as one of the best in the country by the time he left.

Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter Jr. joined the program as a corner with such a big frame that it looked like he may eventually move to safety. Instead, he became a high-level corner who was so feared by opponents in his final season that teams didn’t even look his way when throwing the ball. He finished his career with 20 passes defended, 11 of which came in his final season in 2022. Porter may not have had the interception production you’d expect from an elite corner with only one in his career, but he still made an enormous impact, largely because he was able to consistently take receivers out of the game completely.

Yetur Gross-Matos

Nassib had the best year of any defensive end under Franklin, but Yetur Gross-Matos contributed more sacks in his entire career. Gross-Matos was an elite defensive end in his final two years with the program, totaling 17.5 sacks across 2018 and 2019 with 9.5 coming in the final year. He wasn’t just excellent as a pass rusher either, racking up 37 tackles for loss in his career to go with his 19 total sacks. Gross-Matos was the second-best player on the 2019 defense behind Parsons and allowed the linebacker to flourish behind him with his play as a defensive end.

Brandon Bell

Bell was one of the team’s leaders during the 2016 season - when the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten title. He had 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in only 10 games that year. Bell ultimately finished his career with 224 tackles, 11.5 sacks and four interceptions, playing as one of the most complete linebackers of the Franklin era.

Adisa Isaac

Adisa Isaac was the best defensive end on the 2023 team, a group that also featured first round pick Chop Robinson. Isaac was effective as a pass rusher but his ability to defend the run, and hold up blockers for the linebackers to make plays when necessary, is what made him a complete player for the Nittany Lions. His numbers may not be as prolific as some, but the fact that he was an all-conference level player in 2022 and 2023 after tearing his Achilles in 2021 only adds to the story of Isaac’s career.

John Reid

John Reid was the team’s top corner in the early years of Franklin’s tenure and managed to recover from a knee injury in the middle of his career to have one of the best all-around careers of any Nittany Lion defender of the last decade. Reid was one of the most intelligent defensive players of that time, making plays in the back end thanks to his ability to know what’s coming before it happens. Reid’s seven interceptions and 30 passes defended over his career, with over half of each coming in the two years following his 2017 injury, are indicative of how effective he was.

Marcus Allen

Allen played safety like a linebacker, seeking out contact and laying down big hits whenever he could. He did that so well that he finished with 321 career tackles and 17 tackles for loss. While his limitations against the pass keep him from being higher on the list, that doesn’t take away from what he accomplished as a run defender and his importance to the 2016 season.

Walker Lee Ashley

Smith’s 19 career interceptions are also a program record. His mark has stood the test of time, and only two players have gotten close (both recording 15 in their careers).

Offensive Line Legends

Jeff Wisniewski

A key member of Penn State's national 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 more than 300 pounds, Wisniewski was a massive presence on the interior of the Nittany Lions offensive line. 1989 NFL Draft, second round, Dallas Cowboys -- Wisniewski never played for the Cowboys, instead spending 13 seasons with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (1989-2001). He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.

Olu Fashanu

Only one offensive lineman made this list, but it’s a good one. Olu Fashanu isn’t just the best left tackle of the Franklin era, he’s clearly one of the best linemen to ever play for Penn State. Fashanu was excellent in pass protection for the Nittany Lions, frequently stonewalling edge rushers in front of him, while being a large positive in the running game too. It’s also worth noting that he came back for an extra year after he was already projected as a first round pick and contributed a second full season as an elite left tackle.

Rich Ressler

A College Football Hall of Famer, Ressler is one of the most versatile linemen in Penn State history. Though he's likely best known among the game's best centers, Ressler also played on the Nittany Lions defensive line during his time in Happy Valley. During Penn State's 26-0 upset win over No. 1 Ohio State in 1963, Ressler was credited with 15 solo tackles.

Mike Munchak

1982 NFL Draft, first round, Houston Oilers -- Munchak played 12 seasons for the Oilers (1982-1993). He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a 2001 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL Hall of Famers

Mike Michalske

Michalske joined the New York Yankees of the NFL in 1927 before the league's inaugural draft in 1936. He spent two seasons with the football Yankees (1927-28) and then eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers (1929-1935, 1937). He was a member of a Packers team that won three consecutive NFL championships from 1929-1931. Michalske was a five-time first-team all-Pro and a 1964 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Lenny Moore

1956 NFL Draft, first round, Baltimore Colts -- Moore played 12 seasons for the Colts (1956-1967), and was a member of Baltimore's NFL championship teams of 1958 and 1959. Moore was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1975 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Joe Paterno once said he was "probably the best player I coached, all-around" - and Moore received a top 10 vote from every single one of our panel members. He narrowly missed out on being ranked as high as No. 6.

Franco Harris

1972 NFL Draft, first round, Pittsburgh Steelers -- Harris played 12 seasons for the Steelers (1972-1983) and one season for the Seattle Seahawks (1984). He was a member of four Super Bowl-winning Steelers teams in the 1970s, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a 1990 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Glenn Robinson

1963 NFL Draft, first round, Green Bay Packers -- Robinson played 10 seasons for the Packers (1963-1972) and two seasons for the Washington Redskins (1973-74). He was a member of three Packers teams that won the NFL championship (including the first two Super Bowls). Robinson was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a 2013 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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