Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/730644
[is important], because they definitely
don't cover a lot, especially against wide
receivers. It's really just putting my ad-
vantages [against] everyone else's weak-
nesses, so it really has played out in my
favor. It's been a good move."
But it's not been without some disap-
pointments. While Hamilton led
Penn State in receiving against
Pitt, the throw that occupied his thoughts
after the Nittany Lions' 42-39 loss was
the one he didn't come down with. Mc-
Sorley had seen him break free and
heaved a deep pass toward him as he
streaked downfield inside the Panthers'
30-yard line. The play looked as though it
could have given the Lions their first lead
of the game, but the ball skittered off
Hamilton's fingertips and the drive ended
moments later on an interception in the
end zone. Hamilton was still fighting off
tears in the postgame media room, but the
play did nothing to diminish the confi-
dence of his coaches and teammates.
"I believe in DaeSean Hamilton," coach
James Franklin said. "Always have and al-
ways will. We will continue to go to him
BWI asked Penn State sports historian Lou Prato to select the
top receiver corps in school history. Most of the players listed
below are wideouts, but there have been many seasons in
which the tailbacks and tight ends have 8gured prominently in
the passing game, and they, too, are listed here. Here's Lou's
list:
2005-08 Deon Butler, Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood
No three wide receivers in Penn State history can com-
pare to this group over their entire four-year career.
They were an integral part of Joe Paterno's late-ca-
reer resurgence, during which the Lions won two
Big Ten championships and played in the 2006
Orange Bowl (a victory over Florida State) and
2009 Rose Bowl (a loss to USC). Butler, an
invited walk-on, holds the school record
for career receptions (175) and is second
in career yardage (2,771). Williams (161
catches for 1,743 yards) and Norwood (158
for 2,015) are among the Lions' career lead-
ers in both categories.
1993-95 Bobby Engram, Freddie Scott,
Joe Jurevicius
Engram, who is arguably the team's
greatest wide receiver, is still Penn State's
career leader in receiving yardage (3,026),
with Jurevicius ninth (1,894) and Scott 14th (1,520). In
career receptions, Engram ranks third (167), Jurevicius
is tied for 14th (94) and Scott 16th (93). They all came
together in the Lions' undefeated 1994 season. Engram
was a junior that year, Scott a sophomore and Jurevi-
cius a freshman. They played key roles in one of the
most powerful and balanced o:ensive machines in
college football history.
1980-82 Kenny Jackson, Gregg Garrity, Curt Warner
Jackson was Penn State's 8rst 8rst-team All-
America wide receiver in 1982 and '83 and still ranks
seventh in career yardage (2,006), with Garrity 25th (952).
Garrity may be Penn State's most famous walk-on. He was an
outstanding clutch receiver who is best remembered for his
dramatic touchdown catch in the 1983 Sugar Bowl, which
helped give the Lions the national championship. No tailback
has been better at catching passes coming out of the back8eld
than the All-American Warner, who gained 662 receiving
yards in his Hall of Fame career.
1989 David Daniels, Terry Smith, O.J. McDu+e
Because this team lost three games, the individual play-
ers are o