10 greatest quarterbacks in Penn State Nittany Lions history

John Hufnagel doesn’t have very impressive career numbers, but he won 21 of his 24 career starts including the 1972 Cotton Bowl against Texas 30-6. In the 1972 regular season the next fall, Hufnagel threw for over 2,000 yards and averaged 9.4 yards per attempt which was second best in the country. He finished that year with 15 passing touchdowns and six more on the ground to finish sixth in Heisman Trophy Voting. 

It’s a bit hard to argue for Hufnagel this high on the list while leaving Jon Shaffer who went 25-1 and won the 1986 national championship off entirely, but Shaffer’s numbers and Heisman recognition back up his value to the team while Shaffer was carried by the immense talent around him and averaged 6.3 yards per attempt for his career.