Penn State's Paul Posluszny Elected to College Football Hall of Fame
Paul Posluszny, one of Penn State's all-time great linebackers and a two-time All-American, will be inducted into the 2024 class of the College Football Hall of Fame. Posluszny is part of a 22-member class that will be honored at the National Football Hall of Fame dinner in December in Las Vegas.
Posluszny is the 27th Penn State representative in the College Football Hall of Fame and sixth former linebacker, joining Dave Robinson, Dennis Onkotz, Jack Ham, Shane Conlan and LaVar Arrington. In 2006, Posluszny became the second two-time winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player. Posluszny also won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2005. In a statement, Penn State Athletic Director Patrick Kraft called Posluszny "one of the greatest players in the rich history of Penn State Football."
“I am really excited for Paul Posluszny earning this well-deserved honor of being elected into the College Football Hall of Fame,” Penn State coach James Franklin said in a statement. "Paul is a great example of what Penn State Football is all about. 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. He is one of the all-time greats to ever wear this uniform and is just another shining example of 'Linebacker U.'"
A three-year starter from 2004-06, Posluszny set Penn State's career tackles record with 372 (since broken by Dan Connor). The outside linebacker was the first Penn State player to produce three 100-tackle seasons. Posluszny was known for his technical skill and ability to cover significant ground defensively. He and Jeff Hartings are the only Penn State players to earn All-America and Academic All-America status twice.
Posluszny played 11 NFL seasons after being drafted by Buffalo in the second round in 2007. Posluszny made one Pro Bowl, in 2013 with Jacksonville, for a season in which he led the NFL with 122 solo tackles.
The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame class includes Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Michigan guard Steve Hutchinson, Ohio State tackle Chris Ward, Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, Marshall receiver Randy Moss and coaches Mark Dantonio, Frank Solich and Danny Hale (West Chester-Bloomsburg).
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