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Ranking the best wide receivers in Penn State Football history

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 07: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with KJ Hamler #1 after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 07: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with KJ Hamler #1 after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Oct 17, 1992; University Park, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions reciver O.J. McDuffie (24) in carries the ball against the Boston College Eagles at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 1992; University Park, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions reciver O.J. McDuffie (24) in carries the ball against the Boston College Eagles at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports /

No. 7 wide receiver in Penn State Football history

OJ McDuffie (1988-1992)

Career Stats

Receptions: 125

Receiving Yards: 1,988

Touchdowns: 16

Accolades

  • All-American (1992)
  • 1992 Fiesta Bowl MVP (1991 season)
  • 1st round NFL Draft pick (Dolphins)

Unfortunately for OJ McDuffie, his career fell between two of the best years in program history – 1986 and 1994, which are the two most recent undefeated seasons for Penn State.

That doesn’t mean that he isn’t one of the best receivers in school history, though, as he was a staple of the Nittany Lions’ offense for many years, helping put him ninth all-time in program history for career touchdown receptions.

For playing five seasons, his overall career numbers are nothing to write home about, but his 1992 season was one of the better single-season performances in the school’s history.

In 1992, he caught 63 passes (seventh all-time for a single season), for 977 yards (eighth all-time for a single season), and nine touchdowns (tied for seventh all-time for a single season).

It’s crazy to think about how much better the 1986 or 1994 teams could have been (as if they needed it), had OJ McDuffie gotten to State College two years sooner or later than he did, but unfortunately, we’ll have to leave that one up to our imaginations.

Still, McDuffie is certainly one of the top wideouts to ever come through the program.

No. 6 wide receiver in Penn State Football history

Kenny Jackson (1980-1983)

Career Stats

Receptions: 109

Receiving Yards: 2,006

Touchdowns: 25 touchdowns

Accolades

  • All-American (1982 and 1983)
  • 1st round NFL Draft pick (Eagles)

Kenny Jackson is not in the top 10 in terms of career receptions, but he is 10th in receiving yards and second in touchdown grabs.

Most notably, however, he was the top target for quarterback Todd Blackledge on Penn State’s first National Championship team in 1982.

He had a tremendous four-year career for the Nittany Lions, which allowed him to become the No. 4 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, which puts him comfortably inside the top 10 wideouts in school history.

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