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Penn State football: 10 Nittany Lions who defined Linebacker U

By Josh Yourish

5 Sep 1998: Outside linebacker LaVar Arrington #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action during a game against the Southern Mississippi State Golden Eagles at the Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions defeated the Golden
5 Sep 1998: Outside linebacker LaVar Arrington #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action during a game against the Southern Mississippi State Golden Eagles at the Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions defeated the Golden /
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Jan 2, 1987; Tempe, AZ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Shane Conlan (31) is interviewed by NBC reporter Amad Rashad after defeating the Miami Hurricanes and winning the national championship in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devils Stadium. Penn State defeated Miami 14-10. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 1987; Tempe, AZ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Shane Conlan (31) is interviewed by NBC reporter Amad Rashad after defeating the Miami Hurricanes and winning the national championship in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devils Stadium. Penn State defeated Miami 14-10. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports /

Penn State: 1983-86

NFL: 1987-95

Conlan may not have been the best linebacker in Penn State history, but he is close, especially in the biggest moments. Conlan was an excellent player with 274 career tackles and in 1986 he was a first-team All-American. However, that’s not why he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014, the 1987 Fiesta Bowl is.

Penn State faced Miami in the Fiesta Bowl with the national championship on the line. Conlan made eight tackles and had two interceptions to lead his team to the win. The Nittany Lions were down 10-7 in the fourth when Conlan made his second interception and returned it 38 yards to the Miami five-yard line. D.J. Dozier closed out the game with a touchdown run and Conlan was immortalized as a Penn State legend.

Conlan was selected No. 8 overall in the 1987 NFL Draft and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award for the Buffalo Bills.

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