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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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No. 1 greatest player of Joe Paterno era: LaVar Arrington (1998-99)

  • Career tackles: 173
  • Career sacks: 19
  • Career interceptions: 3
  • 2022 College Football Hall of Fame inductee
  • 1999 Bednarik Award
  • 1999 Butkus Award
  • 1999 Consensus First-Team All-American
  • 1998 First-Team All-American

After winning the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 1998, LaVar Arrington took his play to the next level in 1999. As a junior, he won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player.

His final year in Happy Valley, he led Penn State to an Alamo Bowl win and a No. 11 finish. Arrington became known for the “LaVar Leap” where he would time up the opponent’s snap count and jump over the offensive line to make a tackle.

Arrington was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2000 NFL draft by Washington. He made three Pro Bowls in the NFL.

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