Penn State Football: 30 greatest players of all-time

The Penn State football program has seen their fair share of elite running backs, and in Lydell Mitchell, they had the kind of back that could take over a game in the blink of an eye. Mitchell came to Penn State via Salem, New Jersey. By the time his career in the blue and white was over,  he had become one of the more dominant running backs in Penn State history.

Mitchell teamed with Franco Harris in the backfield at Penn State to give the Nittany Lions the kind of running back tandem that coaches can only dream about. Both players who go on to have solid NFL career, but during their time with the Nittany Lions, Mitchell was definitely the star, with Harris serving as his blocking back.

During the 1971 season, Mitchell put together the kind of year that is still one of the most prolific in the history of the program. He rushed for 1,567 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns, leading the NCAA in that category, while also finding the end zone three times through the air. For his efforts, Mitchell was named an All-American, and was eventually enshrined in 2004 into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Mitchell ended up being a second-round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts. For a time in the 1970s, he was one of the best running backs in the NFL. He was named to three Pro Bowls during his NFL career. While that is a solid career by any means, it pales in comparison to the kind of damage he was able to do as the featured back in Happy Valley.