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Who are the best Penn State football players of the past 25 years? See how beat reporters voted

Stories by Centre Daily Times journalists, with AI summarization

Our summer series has come to an end, with 12 stories ranking the best Penn State football players of the last quarter century. From QB Trace McSorley to TE John Gilmore and LB Paul Posluszny to CB D’Anton Lynn, we ranked every position’s top 10 of the last 25 years using a panel of voters, along with top 5s for specialists and the top 10 players overall on offense and defense.

That panel was made up of Neil Rudel (Altoona Mirror), Rich Scarcella (Reading Eagle), Audrey Snyder (The Nittany Dispatch), Mark Brennan (Lions247), Mark Wogenrich (Penn State on SI), Frank Bodani (York Daily Record), Daniel Gallen (Lions247), Johnny McGonigal (PennLive), Josh Moyer (Centre Daily Times) and Jon Sauber (Centre Daily Times).

Their rankings were based on the players’ stats, accomplishments and the eye test.

We initially wanted to incorporate a reader poll of top 10s, to complement our media panel. Unfortunately, due to severe technical difficulties, we’re unable to retrieve and publish those results. Instead, we’ve gathered all the results from our media panel and compiled them all in one easy-to-find place below.

Here’s every top 10 and top 5 from the summer series.

Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin runs down the field with the ball from USC defenders during the 2017 Rose Bowl on Monday, January 2, 2017. By Abby Drey

NO. 1: WHO IS PENN STATE’S BEST WIDE RECEIVER SINCE 2000? SEE HOW BEAT REPORTERS VOTED

The top player at the position had one of the best years of any offensive player in the last 25 years of Penn State football. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State’s John Urschel blocks Northwestern’s Will Hampton during the Saturday, October 6, 2012 game at Beaver Stadium. By Abby Drey

NO. 2: WHO IS PENN STATE’S BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN SINCE 2000? OUR PANEL VOTED

The top four all received first-place votes. | Published June 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State tight ends coach Ty Howl celebrates with Tyler Warren and Theo Johnson after the win over Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. By Abby Drey

NO. 3: WHO IS THE BEST PENN STATE TIGHT END OF THE LAST 25 YEARS? HERE’S OUR PANEL’S TOP 10

Maybe the top player isn’t a huge surprise, but there was a spirited debate at who belonged No. 2. | Published June 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley celebrates his game win touchdown as he crosses into the end zone to end the Saturday, October 1, 2016 game against Minnesota in Beaver Stadium. Penn State won in overtime. By Abby Drey

NO. 4: WHO ARE PENN STATE’S TOP-10 RUNNING BACKS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

You probably know who’s No. 1, but you might be surprised elsewhere on the list. Where does Journey Brown belong? | Published June 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer

Penn State’s Mike Farrell blocks as Matt McGloin makes a pass during the Saturday, September 22, 2012 game at Beaver Stadium. Abby Drey

NO. 5: WHO ARE THE BEST PENN STATE QUARTERBACKS OF THE LAST QUARTER CENTURY? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

The list includes the program’s all-time leading passer and a top-five Heisman finalist. | Published July 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker breaks up a pass intended for Wisconsin’s Danny Davis during the game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021 at Camp Randall Stadium. By Abby Drey

NO. 6: OUR PANEL RANKED THE BEST PENN STATE SAFETIES OF THE LAST 25 YEARS. SEE THE TOP 10

Our summer series ranking the best Penn State players of the last quarter century is moving to the defensive side of the ball. | Published July 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State cornerback Grant Haley recovers the blocked field goal and returns it for a touchdown during the Saturday, October 22, 2016 game at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won, 24-21. By Abby Drey

NO. 7: WHO ARE PENN STATE’S TOP-10 CORNERBACKS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

No. 1 was nearly unanimous, but our panel of 10 beat writers had plenty of disagreement after that. | Published July 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer

Penn State students display a “Linebacker U” banner before the Nittany Lions game against Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007. By Craig Houtz

NO. 8: WHO ARE PENN STATE’S TOP-10 LINEBACKERS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

Micah Parsons isn’t No. 1 at Linebacker U, but he obviously made the list. Where would you put him? | Published July 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer

Penn State’s Tamba hali (91) sacks Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith (10) during the 4th quarter on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005.

NO. 9: WHO ARE PENN STATE’S TOP-10 DEFENSIVE ENDS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

It was close between Nos. 1 and 2. Who’d you put as your top DE? | Published July 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer

Penn State defensive tackle Austin Johnson pushes through Buffalo defenders during the Saturday, September 12, 2015 game at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won, 27-14. By Abby Drey

NO. 10: WHO ARE PENN STATE’S BEST DEFENSIVE TACKLES OF THE LAST QUARTER CENTURY? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

Two players split the 10 first-place votes from our panel. | Published July 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State’s Kevin Kelly is pictured during a game against Indiana on Nov. 15, 2008.

NO. 11: WHO ARE THE BEST SPECIALISTS IN THE LAST 25 YEARS OF PENN STATE FOOTBALL? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

The return specialist has some of the most dynamic players in program history. | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu blocks Delaware’s Chase McGowan for Drew Allar to make a pass during the game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. By Abby Drey

NO. 12: WHO ARE PENN STATE’S BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS? HOW OUR PANEL VOTED

Six players from the last decade of Penn State football made the list. | Published July 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.