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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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Sep 9, 2006; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end (89) John Carlson is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker (40) Dan Connor in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
Sep 9, 2006; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end (89) John Carlson is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker (40) Dan Connor in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons /

No. 14 greatest player of Joe Paterno era: Dan Connor (2004-07)

  • Career tackles: 419 (1st)
  • Single-season tackles: 145
  • Career interceptions: 4

Even well into the 2000s, Paterno was still getting some of the best linebackers in the entire country. Connor and Paul Posluzny overlapped, and in 2006 both were AP All-Americans, Posluzny first-team and Connor second-team. Connor was also an All-American in 2007.

Like Royster, Connor deserves a spot on this list, not because of one truly dominant year, but because of his career accumulation. Connor is Penn State’s all-time leading tackler with 419 and his 145 tackles in 2007 are the second most in a single season.

Connor was a third-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

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