Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1514597
1 2 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Paul Posluszny helped spark a foot- ball revival at Penn State. Now, he's set to receive the sport's ultimate in- dividual honor: a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. A two-time first-team All-Ameri- can, two-time Bednarik Award winner and Butkus Award recipient, Posluszny was voted into the Hall of Fame in January, part of a 22-member class that also includes wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt) and Randy Moss (Mar- shall), and running back Warrick Dunn (Florida State). The class will be for- mally inducted at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. Posluszny, an Aliquippa, Pa., native, called his election to the hall an "in- credible honor" and thanked his family and his alma mater. "Football is the ultimate team game," he said in a pre- pared statement. "When an individual gets honored, you think of all the people who have played a role in allowing this to happen. I would like to thank my family, specifically my parents, Paul and Jackie, and my brothers and sisters, Stan, Mary, David and Anne, for their endless support of my football career growing up. "I am also incredibly thank- ful to my Penn State team- mates and coaches, who I share this honor with and am grateful for everything we ac- complished together. To the Nittany Lion community, it was a tremendous privilege for me to play in front of the great- est fans in the nation." A standout at Hopewell High, Posluszny arrived at Penn State in 2003 and didn't waste any time showing off the potential that would turn him into one of Linebacker U's all-time great- est players. He began seeing action at outside linebacker midway through his true freshman season. By the end of the year, he was a starter. Although the Nit- tany Lions finished 3-9, their third los- ing season in four years, Posluszny was a bright spot, compiling 36 tackles and winning Freshman All-Big Ten honors from The Sporting News. He became a full-time starter the fol- lowing year, leading the team in tackles with 104 and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. His emergence on the national stage came as a junior in 2005 when Penn State roared back to the top of the Big Ten after going 7-16 in his first two seasons. He was named a team captain — the first junior since Steve Smear and Mike Reid in 1968 to be so honored — and went on to amass 116 tackles in Penn State's 12-1 campaign. Injured in an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State to end the year, Po- sluszny opted to return in 2006. He again finished with 116 tackles and broke Greg Buttle's school record for most career stops with 372. His total now ranks second in Penn State his- tory behind Dan Connor's 419. Drafted in the second round by Buffalo in 2007, Posluszny went on to play 11 NFL seasons and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2013. He is Penn State's 27th College Football Hall of Fame inductee, a group that includes 21 players and six coaches. "I am really excited for Paul Posluszny earning this well- deserved honor of being elected into the College Football Hall of Fame," coach James Franklin said. "Paul is a great example of what Penn State football is all about. He was elite on the field as a player, a leader and an overall teammate, but he was also a tremendous role model for this program off the field. He is one of the all-time greats to ever wear this uniform and is just another shining example of Linebacker U." ■ Paul Posluszny Elected To College Football Hall Of Fame G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M Posluszny broke Greg Buttle's Penn State tackling record with 372 career stops from 2003-06. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS PENN STATE'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS PLAYERS Name Pos. Lettered Inducted LaVar Arrington LB 1997-99 2022 John Cappelletti RB 1971-73 1993 Kerry Collins QB 1992-94 2018 Shane Conlan LB 1983-86 2014 Keith Dorney OT 1975-78 2005 Jack Ham LB 1968-70 1990 Glenn Killinger QB 1918, 1920-21 1971 Ted Kwalick TE 1966-68 1989 Rich Lucas QB 1957-59 1986 Pete Mauthe RB 1909-12 1957 Shorty Miller QB 1910-13 1974 Lydell Mitchell RB 1969-71 2004 Dennis Onkotz LB 1967-69 1995 Paul Posluszny LB 2003-06 2024 Mike Reid DT 1966, 1968-69 1987 Glenn Ressler OL 1962-64 2001 Dave Robinson DE 1960-62 1997 Steve Suhey G 1942, 1946-47 1985 Dexter Very E 1909-12 1976 Curt Warner RB 1979-82 2009 Harry Wilson RB 1921-23 1973 COACHES Name PSU Tenure Inducted Bill Bowes* – 2016 Hugo Bezdek 1918-29 1954 Rip Engle 1950-1965 1973 Dick Harlow 1915-17 1954 Bob Higgins 1930-48 1954 Joe Paterno 1966-2011 2007 * Penn State alumnus inducted as New Hampshire head coach