Penn State Football: Top-25 players of the James Franklin Era
By Brad Weiss
Penn State Football: Top-25 players of the James Franklin Era
806. . Defensive Back. Nittany Lions . Grant Haley. 17. player
In the history of the Penn State football program, there are few memories like the one Grant Haley gave the fan base back in the 2017 college football season. Hosting the No. 2-ranked team in the country as an unranked underdog, the Nittany Lions were able to upset rival Ohio State, this thanks to an incredible special teams play that saw Haley pick up a blocked field goal and return it 60 yards for a score.
The Nittany Lions would go on to defeat Ohio State in one of the biggest upsets in school history, but Haley is not someone who should be known for one big play. In fact, the players affectionately referred to on campus as “the Ohio State kid,” was one of the better defensive backs in the Big Ten during his career, and was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as a senior.
A solid return man as well, Haley had a tremendous nose for the ball and was even a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist during the 2017 campaign. Named a captain for his final season in Happy Valley, Haley finished his last season at Penn State with two interceptions, and ten pass breakups, while also giving the program one of the defining moments in the history of Penn State football.