Penn State football is basically a religion in Central Pennsylvania. If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a White Out at Beaver Stadium, you know what I’m talking about. It’s loud. It’s shaking. It’s 107,000 people screaming "We Are" until their lungs give out. But the program isn't just about the noise or the blue-and-white jerseys. It’s about the names that built the place.
Honestly, picking just 10 Penn State football icons is a nightmare. You're guaranteed to leave off someone's favorite linebacker. But when we look at the guys who actually defined the "Linebacker U" moniker or changed how the game was played, certain names just rise to the top.
1. Saquon Barkley: The Human Highlight Reel
Let’s just get the obvious one out of the way. Saquon Barkley wasn't just a running back; he was a glitch in the Matrix. You’ve probably seen the hurdles. He’d be running full tilt, see a defender, and just... go over them.
Barkley finished his career (2015-2017) with 3,843 rushing yards and a staggering 5,538 all-purpose yards. He wasn't just a power back, though he could squat 600 pounds like it was a bag of groceries. He was a receiving threat and a kick returner who could take the opening whistle at Ohio Stadium 97 yards to the house. That 2016 Big Ten Championship run doesn't happen without him. Period.
2. Jack Ham: The Professor of Defense
If Saquon is the modern face, Jack Ham is the bedrock. He played from 1968 to 1970 and is widely considered one of the smartest to ever play the position. Most people know him for the four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but at Penn State, he was a Consensus All-American on those legendary undefeated teams of '68 and '69. He had this weird knack for being exactly where the ball was going before the quarterback even knew he was throwing it.
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3. John Cappelletti: The Heisman Standard
You can't talk about this program without mentioning its only Heisman Trophy winner. In 1973, Cappelletti rushed for over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. But his legacy is more about the heart than the stats. His Heisman acceptance speech, where he dedicated the award to his younger brother Joey who was battling leukemia, is still one of the most emotional moments in sports history.
4. LaVar Arrington and the "LaVar Leap"
LaVar Arrington was scary. There is no other way to put it. Between 1997 and 1999, he was a 6'3", 250-pound heat-seeking missile. The most iconic play? The "LaVar Leap." He timed the snap perfectly against Illinois, jumped clean over the offensive line, and tackled the ball carrier before the poor guy even had his feet set. It looked fake. It wasn't. He took home the Butkus and Bednarik awards in 1999 because, well, who else was going to take them?
5. Franco Harris: Before the Immaculate Reception
Long before he was a Steeler legend, Franco Harris was the thunder to Lydell Mitchell’s lightning at Penn State (1969-1971). He was a massive, physical back who could also move. He helped the Nittany Lions to some of their most dominant seasons of the Paterno era. While Mitchell had the flashy stats, Harris provided the grit that defined the program's identity for decades.
6. Paul Posluszny: The Heart of the 2000s
After a rough patch in the early 2000s, "Poz" was the guy who brought the pride back. He was a two-time consensus All-American and won the Bednarik Award twice. He wasn't the fastest guy on the field, but he was the toughest. He famously played through a broken arm in the Orange Bowl against Florida State. That’s just who he was.
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7. Trace McSorley: The Wizard of Camelot
McSorley wasn't the biggest quarterback. He wasn't the most "pro-style." But he won. A lot. He holds nearly every major passing record at the school, but his 2016 season was the stuff of legend. Down 21 points in the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin? Trace didn't blink. He just kept slinging it. He finished his career with 9,899 passing yards and a legacy of being the ultimate "gamer."
8. Shane Conlan: The National Title Hero
If you want to know why Penn State is "Linebacker U," look at Shane Conlan in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. Playing against a heavily favored Miami team, Conlan had two interceptions, including one he nearly took back for a touchdown while hobbling on a bad knee. He was the MVP of that national championship game. He was the quintessential blue-collar Penn State defender.
9. Micah Parsons: The Modern Freak
Micah Parsons only played two seasons (2018-2019) before opting out of the COVID-shortened 2020 year, but man, did he make them count. In the 2019 Cotton Bowl, he was basically unblockable, racking up 14 tackles and two forced fumbles. He had the speed of a defensive back in a linebacker's body. Seeing him dominate in the NFL now isn't a surprise to anyone who watched him in Happy Valley.
10. Abdul Carter: The New Breed
As of 2024 and 2025, Abdul Carter has become the latest in the long line of defensive stars. Transitioning from linebacker to defensive end, he’s mirrored the versatility of Parsons. In the 2024 season, he was a nightmare for Big Ten offensive tackles, proving that even as the coaching staff changes—with the Matt Campbell era now kicking off in 2026—the talent pipeline at Penn State doesn't stop.
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What Actually Makes a Penn State Legend?
It’s not just about the NFL draft stock. To the fans, a 10 Penn State football legend is someone who embodies "Success With Honor." It’s about the guys who stayed when things got tough, like Michael Robinson in 2005 or the players who kept the program afloat during the sanctions of the early 2010s.
What to watch for next:
- The Transfer Era: With Rocco Becht reportedly visiting and the portal in full swing for the 2026 season, the "legend" status might start coming from one-year stars.
- The Defensive Shift: Keep an eye on D’Anton Lynn’s new scheme. Players like Yvan Kemajou are already showing signs of being the next big names on that side of the ball.
- Beaver Stadium Evolution: The ongoing renovations are going to change the atmosphere, but the history remains in the rafters.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the stats of these players, the Penn State Archives or the Sports-Reference database are the best places to see the raw numbers behind the myths. The 2026 season is shaping up to be a total reset for the program, but the standard set by these 10 guys isn't going anywhere.