The running back position at Penn State has seen some of the best players in the history of the program, and guys that should have went on to win the Heisman Trophy. While John Cappelletti is the only Penn State player to win the Heisman, Curt Warner‘s resume places him on our list as the top running back in the history of the program. It would be hard to find people who can argue against that.
Warner played his high school ball at Pineville (WV) High School, and came to Penn State for the 1979 season. Over the next four years, he would carve out one of the more impressive careers in Penn State history, as he led the team in rushing yards in 1980, 1981 and 1982. He capped off his career by leading the Nittany Lions to their first national title, and would hold over 40 team records when his Penn State career came to an end.
Currently, Warner is still No. 2 all-time in rushing yards at Penn State, as only Evan Royster rushed for more yards during his college career. Warner rushed for over 1,000 yards twice in his career, averaged over 5.0 yards per carry and found the end zone nearly 25 times during his time in Happy Valley.
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Warner with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. He would go on to make three Pro Bowls as a member of the team. Warner led the AFC in rushing as a rookie, winning his first of two AFC Offensive Player of the Year Awards. In 2009, he was honored for his Penn State career by being enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.