Penn State Football: 30 greatest players of all-time

When it comes to the sport of football, Jack Ham is a name that is synonymous with the linebacker position. Incredibly, Ham was not really heavily recruited in high school, as Penn State was his only offer. That offer only came after another prospect dropped out of his commitment to come to Happy Valley.

Boy, are Penn State fans happy that player never came, because Ham would be the one to put Penn State on the map as Linebacker U. Ham is still considered one of the best player to ever play at the school.

A member of both the Pro Football and College Hall of Fame, Ham was a three-year starter at linebacker for Penn State. The Nittany Lions went 29-3 over that span.

An All-American in 1970, Ham became one of the better defensive players in college football during his time in school. The Pittsburgh Steelers came calling in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft. Once in the NFL, Ham captained the Steel Curtain defense, winning four Super Bowl rings and being named to the Pro Bowl eight times.

Penn State will forever be known as Linebacker U, and Ham is the one to thank for starting it all. A co-captain of the team as senior, he turned that one lone offer from the Nittany Lions into an incredible football career. In the history of Penn State, few have done it better than No. 33.