10 greatest running backs in Penn State football history
Penn State has a remarkable history of dominant running backs, but these 10 stood out amongst the rest in program history. With D.J. Dozier and Ki-Jana Carter on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot, where do those legends rank?
By Josh Yourish
Lydell Mitchell. . Lydell Mitchell. 6. . . player. Lydell Mitchell. 1969-71. 491
It’s not easy to keep Franco Harris off the football field, but that’s how good Lydell Mitchell was at Penn State. Mitchell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 largely because of his incredible 1971 season.
In ‘71, Mitchell ran for 1,567 yards and 26 touchdowns with three more scores and 154 additional yards through the air. He led the Nittany Lions to an 11-1 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. His 38 career rushing touchdowns at Penn State were the most in program history until Saquon Barkley nabbed the record in 2017.