Three former Penn State players listed on 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
A trio of former Penn State football players have landed on the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny, running back D.J. Dozier, and running back Ki-Jana Carter are three of the 80 one-time college football stars on this year’s selection sheet.
Posluszny has a stacked resume. The two-time All-American Penn State standout was twice the Chuck Bednarik Award winner and also earned the Butkus Award in 2006. “Poz” earned the program’s all-time tackles record with 372 and also was the first Lion to lead the team in tackles three times and to post three 100-tackle seasons. He netted a total of 116 in 2006. After his stellar college career, Posluszny went on to have an 11-year NFL career.
Moving on to Dozier, he is the only player to ever lead Penn State in rushing for four consecutive seasons. His 3,227 career rushing yards rank fifth in program lore. The Virginia Beach, Va., native scored the game-winning touchdown in the Nittany Lions’ 14-10 win over Miami in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. After earning All-American honors as a senior, Dozier went on to have a five-year NFL career.
Last but certainly not least, Carter was an All-American in 1994. Most fans remember his junior season at Penn State best. The Westerville, Ohio native finished fourth nationally in average rushing yards per game (139.9), second in scoring average (10.8 ppg), and fifth in all-purpose yardage average (158.4). The Lion led the Big Ten in all three categories. After finishing second for the Heisman Trophy, Carter became the first-ever No. 1 overall draft pick from Penn State. He had a 10-year NFL career.
Other Penn State connections on the list
Those three former Penn State players on the list are in good company. Not only are many other onetime stars on the ballot, but a few people with connections to the Lions are, as well.
Former Lion Glenn Killinger, who is already a College Football Hall of Fame member as a player, is on the coach ballot. And, current Penn State receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield, who starred at Purdue, is on the ballot, as well. He, of course, was a consensus All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist.
All told, Penn State has 20 former Nittany Lions in the College Football Hall of Fame. The latest inductee, LaVar Arrington, is going into the hall of fame this year.
“First and foremost, I want to give a sincere thank you to my family because without them, I would have come up short,” Arrington said in a statement when his induction was announced. “My parents, brothers and sister instilled in me a mindset that was built so deep and so strong.
“Next, I want to thank Coach (Joe) Paterno, my coaches and my teammates. They all played a big part in my development. I love Coach (Tom) Bradley, a super, awesome confidant and guidance for me. I would also like to thank so many people who played a major role in all of this, including Don Ferrell, Todd Kulka, Mark and Sue Sherburne, Dr. Dave Yukelson, Brad “Spider” Caldwell, Kirk Diehl, Tim Shope and Tom Venturino.”
