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Penn State Football: 15 greatest PSU players of Joe Paterno era

By Josh Yourish

Jan 1, 1983; New Orleans, LA, USA, FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno talks to Todd Blackledge (14) against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 1983 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 1983; New Orleans, LA, USA, FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno talks to Todd Blackledge (14) against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 1983 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 18: Linebacker Shane Conlan #31 of the Penn State University Nittany Lions discusses a play with an official during a college football game against the Syracuse University Orangemen at Beaver Stadium on October 18, 1986 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Syracuse 42-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 18: Linebacker Shane Conlan #31 of the Penn State University Nittany Lions discusses a play with an official during a college football game against the Syracuse University Orangemen at Beaver Stadium on October 18, 1986 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Syracuse 42-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

No. 4 greatest player of Joe Paterno era: Shane Conlan (1983-86

Conlan was a great outside linebacker for LBU his entire career, but his greatest moment came in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. With a national championship on the line, Conlan had eight tackles and two interceptions in the Nittany Lions’ win over Miami.

With Penn State trailing 10-7 in the fourth quarter, Conlan reeled in his second pick of the game and returned it 38-yards to the Miami five-yard line. That set up D.J. Dozier’s game-winning touchdown run.

Conlan had immediate success in the NFL after being drafted No. 8 overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1987. He was awarded the Defensive Rookie of the Year and made three straight trips to the Pro Bowl the next three years.

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