Here are some of the top linebackers in the Joe Paterno era at Penn State.
Listed in reverse chronological order: Click name for photo.
Listed in reverse chronological order: Click name for photo.
| LINEBACKER U |
CONNOR Dan 2004-07. 2007 AP First team All-America. 2006 TSN First team All-America.
2007 Bednarik Award winner. All-Time tackle leader with 419. Teamed with Poz to form a duo
on par with Onkotz and Ham. Holds all-time record for tackles as a freshman (85).
Arguably ranks with Onkotz at the top of the "Most Versatile LB".
POSLUSZNY Paul 2003-06. AP Two-time First-team All-America.
2005 Butkus Award Award winner. 2005 & 2006 Bednarik Award winner. Stellar at both ILB and OLB.
Only Lion to record one hundred plus tackles three years in a row. Second in career tackles (372)
Two-time First team Academic All-American. Named Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete.
ARRINGTON LaVar 1997-99. Two-time First team All-America.
SHORT Brandon 1996-99. First-team All-America. Four year starter, freshman year at DE.
FILARDI Gerald 1993-96. Two-year starter at MLB. Led team in tackles both years (208).
GELZHEISER Brian 1991-94. Four-year letterman. Topped 100 tackles in back-to-back years.
Second in all-time tackles.
D'ONOFRIO Mark 1988-91. Three-year starter. Led Lions in tackling his junior year and was leading as a
senior before a season ending injury.
COLLINS Andre 1986-89. First team All-America. Over 100 tackles in back-to-back years.
Four-year letterman.
BAUER Trey 1984-87. Third team All-America. Three-year starter.
Part of the LB corps with Conlan, Giftopoulos and Graham on 1986 National Champions.
CONLAN Shane 1983-86. Two-time first team All-America. Perhaps the standard for OLB.
Became part-time starter as a freshman. Fifth all-time in tackles.
RADECIC Scott 1980-83. Second team All-America. Two-year starter.
PARLAVECCHIO Chet 1978-81. Second team All-America. Led team in tackles 1980-81.
MEHL Lance 1977-79. Second team All-America. Led team in tackles 1978-79.
ALLERMAN Kurt 1974-76. First team All-America. Three-year letterman.
BUTTLE Greg 1973-75. First team All-America. Second All-time career tackles
leader with 343, including the single season Lion record of 165 in 1974.
ROSECRANS Jim 1973-75. Two-year starter, three year letterman. 108 tackles in 1974.
DEVLIN Chris 1972-74. Two-year starter, three-year letterman. Played DE as a soph.
O'NEIL Ed 1971-73. First team All-America. Led with 126 tackles in 1972.
LASLAVIC Jim 1970-72. Two-year starter, three-year letterman. Also played DE.
SKORUPAN John 1970-72. First team All-America. Three-year starter.
HAM Jack 1968-70. College Football Hall of Fame. First team All-America.
Three-year starter. 186 tackles his last two years.
ZAPIEC Charlie 1968-69, 71. First team All-America. Three-year starter, first two at guard.
KATES Jim 1967-69. Three-year starter. Teamed with Hall-of-Famers:
Dennis Onkotz, Jack Ham and Mike Smith to comprise JoePa's first great LB unit.
ONKOTZ Dennis 1967-69. College Football Hall of Fame. Two-time First team All-America
and was Second-team the other year. Career leader at LB with 11 interceptions, returning three for TD's.
Third in all-time tackles - back when you could only play varsity for three years.
Outstanding punt returner.
2007 Bednarik Award winner. All-Time tackle leader with 419. Teamed with Poz to form a duo
on par with Onkotz and Ham. Holds all-time record for tackles as a freshman (85).
Arguably ranks with Onkotz at the top of the "Most Versatile LB".
POSLUSZNY Paul 2003-06. AP Two-time First-team All-America.
2005 Butkus Award Award winner. 2005 & 2006 Bednarik Award winner. Stellar at both ILB and OLB.
Only Lion to record one hundred plus tackles three years in a row. Second in career tackles (372)
Two-time First team Academic All-American. Named Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete.
ARRINGTON LaVar 1997-99. Two-time First team All-America.
SHORT Brandon 1996-99. First-team All-America. Four year starter, freshman year at DE.
FILARDI Gerald 1993-96. Two-year starter at MLB. Led team in tackles both years (208).
GELZHEISER Brian 1991-94. Four-year letterman. Topped 100 tackles in back-to-back years.
Second in all-time tackles.
D'ONOFRIO Mark 1988-91. Three-year starter. Led Lions in tackling his junior year and was leading as a
senior before a season ending injury.
COLLINS Andre 1986-89. First team All-America. Over 100 tackles in back-to-back years.
Four-year letterman.
BAUER Trey 1984-87. Third team All-America. Three-year starter.
Part of the LB corps with Conlan, Giftopoulos and Graham on 1986 National Champions.
CONLAN Shane 1983-86. Two-time first team All-America. Perhaps the standard for OLB.
Became part-time starter as a freshman. Fifth all-time in tackles.
RADECIC Scott 1980-83. Second team All-America. Two-year starter.
PARLAVECCHIO Chet 1978-81. Second team All-America. Led team in tackles 1980-81.
MEHL Lance 1977-79. Second team All-America. Led team in tackles 1978-79.
ALLERMAN Kurt 1974-76. First team All-America. Three-year letterman.
BUTTLE Greg 1973-75. First team All-America. Second All-time career tackles
leader with 343, including the single season Lion record of 165 in 1974.
ROSECRANS Jim 1973-75. Two-year starter, three year letterman. 108 tackles in 1974.
DEVLIN Chris 1972-74. Two-year starter, three-year letterman. Played DE as a soph.
O'NEIL Ed 1971-73. First team All-America. Led with 126 tackles in 1972.
LASLAVIC Jim 1970-72. Two-year starter, three-year letterman. Also played DE.
SKORUPAN John 1970-72. First team All-America. Three-year starter.
HAM Jack 1968-70. College Football Hall of Fame. First team All-America.
Three-year starter. 186 tackles his last two years.
ZAPIEC Charlie 1968-69, 71. First team All-America. Three-year starter, first two at guard.
KATES Jim 1967-69. Three-year starter. Teamed with Hall-of-Famers:
Dennis Onkotz, Jack Ham and Mike Smith to comprise JoePa's first great LB unit.
ONKOTZ Dennis 1967-69. College Football Hall of Fame. Two-time First team All-America
and was Second-team the other year. Career leader at LB with 11 interceptions, returning three for TD's.
Third in all-time tackles - back when you could only play varsity for three years.
Outstanding punt returner.