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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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Nov 28, 1981, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Curt Warner (25) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Pitt Stadium during the 1981 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 1981, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Curt Warner (25) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Pitt Stadium during the 1981 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 greatest player of Joe Paterno era: Curt Warner (1979-82)

  • Career rushing yards: 3,398
  • Career rushing touchdowns: 24
  • Career scrimmage yards: 4,060

Warner ended his career at Penn State with 177 yards and two touchdowns in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. He outplayed Herschel Walker and led the Nittany Lions to the first national championship of the Joe Paterno era and the first since 1912.

That season, Warner ran for 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns, his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season and third straight year with 1,000+ scrimmage yards.

The NFL took notice of his final season specifically his final game against Walker. While Walker signed with the USFL, Warner became the third overall pick in the NFL draft, behind future hall-of-famers John Elway and Eric Dickerson.

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