Penn State Football: 30 greatest players of all-time

The history of the Penn State football program is full of incredible stories, as well as groundbreaking talent that took the college football landscape by storm. When it comes to Wallace Triplett, his contribution to the Nittany Lions can never be understated, as he and Dennis Hoggard were the first two African-Americans to play at the varsity level at the school.

Not only did Triplett play at Penn State, but he became a standout player at the school, and is the reason the “We Are” came into existence. During the 1946 season, Penn State actually had its game against Miami (FL) cancelled, as they refused to play the Hurricanes due to the University of Miami was a segregated school.

In addition to being the first African-American to play varsity at Penn State, he also was the first to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic, where he caught a touchdown pass against Southern Methodist University.

The La Mott, Pennsylvania native was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1949 in the 19th round, and became the first African-American to be drafted and play for an NFL team.

The 92-year old Triplett played for Detroit during the 1949 and 1950 seasons, and then went on to play for the Chicago Cardinals from 1952-53. Not only was he one of the better players to play at the school, but maybe the most important, as his contribution to the program goes well beyond the white lines.