Name a player who represents Penn State at its best

preacher_dawg

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2014
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In my effort to get to know Penn State, I really enjoy history, and which player would you say best represents Penn State. For instance, at Mississippi State, I would say Nick Fitzgerald, not recruited very high at all, but hard working and tough as nails. That sort of embodies who Mississippi State is. What about Penn State?
 

preacher_dawg

All-Conference
Nov 12, 2014
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What decade best defines your generation? We can give you a worthy list from any.
Kurt Cobain GIF by Nirvana

1990s GIF
 

LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
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Mike Reid, Rosey Grier, John Cappelletti, Shane Conlan, OJ McDuffie, Steve Smith, Poz, Sean Lee, LaVar, KiJana Carter, Michael Zoedich, Mike Mauti, Trace McSorely, Saquon, Tyler Warren. There’s really too many to mention. Guys that just played hard and handled themselves with class.
 
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fairgambit

All-American
Aug 20, 2010
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John Cappelletti

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was to give a benediction after John's moving Heisman acceptance speech, but he chose to forgo it, saying instead: "Tonight you have heard a speech from the heart, rather than from the lips . . . I was supposed to pronounce the blessing, but you don't need a blessing tonight. God has blessed you in the person of John Cappelletti."

And Penn State has been blessed to count John among it's most honorable alums.
 

Itraindogs

All-Conference
Nov 28, 2024
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John Urschel. After retiring from the NFL in 2017 John finished his PhD at MIT in 2021 and is now an Assistant Professor at MIT focusing on spectral graph theory and numerical linear algebra. He is a bestselling author and continues to conduct research in applied mathematics. Class act, excellent football player and even better intellectual
 

AvgUser

All-Conference
Jul 12, 2016
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A lot of great names mentioned above. It is probably no coincidence that the two speakers in this video are second generation players whose fathers learned from another great man.

 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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Right now, Saquon Barkley because everyone knows who he is. Many of the past greats mentioned on here aren’t remembered by anyone outside of Penn State people. Todd Blackledge is a close second due to his broadcast work.
 

LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
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Right now, Saquon Barkley because everyone knows who he is. Many of the past greats mentioned on here aren’t remembered by anyone outside of Penn State people. Todd Blackledge is a close second due to his broadcast work.
MRob also, He’s on major network TV and gets plenty of airtime. LaVar has a morning radio show on XM.
 

MacNit

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
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In my effort to get to know Penn State, I really enjoy history, and which player would you say best represents Penn State. For instance, at Mississippi State, I would say Nick Fitzgerald, not recruited very high at all, but hard working and tough as nails. That sort of embodies who Mississippi State is. What about Penn State?
Franco stands above all!
 

LionsAndBears

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2009
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Michael Robinson is always first in my thoughts. He was a football player. He played WR, RB and QB for PSU and he took us out of our darkest period and brought us back to life in 2005. I also believe he got his Master's while playing at PSU. His excellence on and off the field, his unselfishness and his love and loyalty for the University is why I put MRob first!