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

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

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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Quarterback Todd Blackledge #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

2. QB Todd Blackledge and RB Curt Warner (1980-82)

This duo is the only one on this list to spend three seasons together as starters, they also brought Penn State Football its first national championship.

In the three years he was the starting quarterback at Penn State, Todd Blackledge threw for 4,812 yards with 41 touchdowns and 41 interceptions, not a stat line you see often. He also added ten career rushing scores. His best season came during Penn State’s championship run in 1982, when he completed 55.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. That season was good enough to place Blackledge sixth in Heisman voting and helped make him the seventh overall pick in the 1983 draft.

Curt Warner rushed for 3,007 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in his three years as the starting running back of the Nittany Lions. He added five receiving touchdowns in 1982. Warner finished tenth in Heisman voting in 1982 and was the third overall pick in the 1983 draft.

Blackledge and Warner went 31-5 with a national championship win in the Sugar Bowl and back-to-back Fiesta Bowl wins. With both finishing top ten in Heisman voting and both being selected in the top ten of the NFL draft, this is a special duo.

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