ICYMI: Penn State football legend earns College Football Hall of Fame invite

Penn State football has long been known for being great at one position – linebacker. The Nittany Lions have been dubbed “Linebacker U” for their excellence at the position. There have been some greats to don the Blue and White over the years. Jack Ham, Dennis Onkotz, Shane Conlan, LaVar Arrington, Dan Connor, Sean Lee, NaVorro Bowman, Michael Mauti, and Micah Parsons are just some of the names forever etched in Penn State lore. Some have excelled to such a degree on the field that they have earned their spots among the sport’s best in the College Football Hall of Fame. And this week, yet another Penn State football legend earned his spot among the icons of the game. On Monday, we learned that former Nittany Lion linebacker Paul Posluszny will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year,

Paul Posluszny quickly etched his place at “Linebacker U”

A native of Aliquippa, Paul Posluszny quickly made his mark for Joe Paterno and the Penn State football program. During his freshman year in 2003, “Puz” made 36 tackles, had a fumble recovery, and had a pick-six.

At the start of his sophomore campaign in 2004, Posluszny changed his number to 31 in the likes of Penn State linebackers Shane Conlan and Andre Collins. The irony of this is that Posluszny is arguably the best Nittany Lion to wear the number. He recorded 104 tackles in 2004, which led the team.

But his last two seasons in Happy Valley is when Paul Posluszny became a Penn State football legend.  Posluszny earned first-team All-American honors in both 2005 and 2006. He also became the second Nittany Lion ever to win the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s top defender twice. Posluszny left Penn State as the first Nittany Lion to lead the team in tackles three times and post three 100-tackle seasons. 

In the 2007 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills took Posluszny in the second round. In 11 years in the NFL, Posluszny had 1,212 tackles for both the Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He added 15 interceptions, forced 8 fumbles, and 16 sacks over the course of his career, as well. 

Penn State football legend becomes 27th Nittany Lion to earn a College Football Hall of Fame invite

On January 8, Paul Posluszny earned his invitation to the College Football Hall of Fame for the class of 2024. He becomes the 21st Penn State football player to make the College Football Hall of Fame, along with six coaches.

“Paul is a great example of what Penn State football is all about,” James Franklin said, in part, on Monday. “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.”

“Paul Posluszny is a prime example of the ultimate Penn State student-athlete,” added AD Pat Kraft. “He will go down as one of the greatest players in the rich history of Penn State Football and is another classic example of our great tradition at the linebacker position.”

The induction ceremony for the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2024 will be on December 10. 

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