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Penn State Football: Ranking the top backfield duos in Nittany Lions history

By Alec Whitaker

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Todd Blackledge #14 of the Penn State University Nittany Lions looks to pass as running backs Curt Warner #25 and Jon Williams #44 block during a college football game against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers at Beaver Stadium on November 26, 1982 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Pitt 19-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Todd Blackledge #14 of the Penn State University Nittany Lions looks to pass as running backs Curt Warner #25 and Jon Williams #44 block during a college football game against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers at Beaver Stadium on November 26, 1982 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Pitt 19-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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Penn State’s quarterback Michael Robinson (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /

HM. QB Michael Robinson and RB Tony Hunt (2005)

Like Hufnagel and Mitchell, the duo of Michael Robinson and Tony Hunt deserves a mention for their dominant one season together as starters.

The Nittany Lions went 11-1 in 2005 with an Orange Bowl victory. They very well could have played for the BCS championship that year had they not lost to Michigan on the final play of a controversial game.

Robinson completed 52.1% of his passes for 2,350 yards and 17 touchdowns to ten interceptions. Robinson did more damage with his legs, rushing for 806 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the definition of a dual threat quarterback. These numbers placed him fifth in Heisman voting and he was a fourth-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

Hunt often gets overlooked when discussing the best running backs in program history, but he had one of the best careers at Penn State. He ran for 3,320 yards and 25 touchdowns in his four seasons with the Nittany Lions. In 2005, Hunt ran the ball 174 times for 1,047 yards and six touchdowns, he caught 20 passes for 206 yards as well. After another dominant season as a senior in 2006, Hunt was selected in the third round of the 2007 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was almost impossible to stop this two-headed rushing attack and it’s no surprise they were as great as they were. If they had spent more than one season together, these two would’ve ranked high on this list.

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