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Penn State Football: Updated top five all-time quarterbacks

By Collin Wieder

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 3: Quarterback Michael Robinson #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass during the 72nd Fed Ex Orange Bowl against the Florida State Seminoles at Dolphins Stadium on January 3, 2005 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Penn State defeated Florida State 26-23 in triple overtime. (Photo by: Doug Benc/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 3: Quarterback Michael Robinson #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass during the 72nd Fed Ex Orange Bowl against the Florida State Seminoles at Dolphins Stadium on January 3, 2005 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Penn State defeated Florida State 26-23 in triple overtime. (Photo by: Doug Benc/Getty Images) /
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10 NOV 1994: PENN STATE QUARTERBACK KERRY COLLINS ROLLS OUT OF THE POCKET DURING THE NITTANY LIONS 45-17 VICTORY OVER THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS AT BEAVER STADIUM IN UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart/ALLSPORT
10 NOV 1994: PENN STATE QUARTERBACK KERRY COLLINS ROLLS OUT OF THE POCKET DURING THE NITTANY LIONS 45-17 VICTORY OVER THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS AT BEAVER STADIUM IN UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart/ALLSPORT /

1. Kerry Collins

Collins set the gold standard for Penn State football quarterbacks. In a time where passing games began to take off, Collins became part of that movement. In his two years the Nittany Lions went 22-2 notching a flawless, 12-0 in 1994.

His first season under center he put up respectable numbers during a 10-2 campaign. He threw for 1,605 yards and 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions on his way to a Citrus Bowl win over No. 6 Tennessee. The 1993 season may not be what he was known for, but he accomplished a great deal even in ’93.

Too many weapons

The following year, he led a lethal, balanced attack featuring three future first round draft picks including himself, tight end Kyle Brady and running back Ki-Jana Carter. The team averaged a ridiculous 47 points per game on its way to the unblemished season. Collins used receivers Bobby Engram and Freddie Scott to stretch the field, as he dropped deep balls all over Big Ten secondaries.

In the short passing game, Collins had the luxury of Brady as a safety blanket underneath. And In the run game, Carter gashed defenses making the offense a dangerous two-punch attack averaging 230-plus yards per game on the ground and through the air.

In all, he ended up throwing for 2,679 yards, 21 touchdowns and just seven interceptions on a 66.7 completion percentage. Those numbers and efficiency through the air were leaps and bounds ahead of an already advancing offensive era. It’s part of the reason he went fifth overall in the 1995 NFL Draft.

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Collins did everything necessary to lead his team to a national title win, but the polls went for undefeated, 13-0 Nebraska. It shouldn’t devalue the season or Collins’ legacy especially since it was prior to the BCS era. Collins is the most recent quarterback to put the Lions near a natty, and he performed at an elite level making him No. 1.

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