Victory Bell Rings
Fansided

The Top Five All-Time Penn State Defensive Linemen

By Shane Lunnen

Nov 1, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; General view of Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; General view of Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Oct 25, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions fans wear white t-shirts for a white out during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions fans wear white t-shirts for a white out during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Reid

Arguably the best defensive tackle in Nittany Lion history, at the number one spot is Mike Reid.

Reid was a captain of both the 1968 and 1969 teams that went undefeated. In his senior year in 1969, he led Penn State with 87 tackles and was named an All-American. He also won both the Maxwell Award and Outland Trophy that year, the only Nittany Lion to ever earn the latter.  He even finished fifth in the Heisman voting, a rare feat for a defensive player to be that high in the voting.

In the 1970 NFL Draft, Reid was drafted with the seventh pick overall.  He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.  As an aside, he is also the only former Nittany Lion to win a Grammy Award.

Because of all of his accomplishments on the field, Reid deserves the top spot.

Next: Number Two Dave Robinson

Home/Penn State Football