Tag: Curt Warner

Top 10 Penn State bowl game individual rushing performances

Here is a look at the top 10 individual rushing performances in Penn State bowl history.

As we count down the days until Penn State kicks off against Ole Miss in the 2023 Peach Bowl, it’s fun to look back on some Nittany Lions’ bowl game history. Two standout backs, [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag], are expected to play in the bowl game this year so perhaps more memorable performances are on deck.

Penn State has had its share of quality running backs throughout its storied history, none more famous than [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] and [autotag]Franco Harris[/autotag]. Harris was a big and powerful runner who led the Nittany Lions to an undefeated season in 1971 as an All-American. He would go on to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Barkley broke several Penn State rushing records during his time in Happy Valley and showed the innate ability to break off highlight plays. He was one of if not the most electrifying players in Penn State history

Do either of these two backs make the list of top-10 rushing performances in Penn State bowl game history?

Seahawks Mt. Rushmore: Running backs

Every great Seahawks team has been defined by an elite ground attack

Here at Seahawks Wire, we are continuing our latest on-going summer series: Seahawks Mt. Rushmore, where we will look at the top four players at each major position in franchise history.

Last week we naturally started with quarterbacks. Now, we’re on to what Seattle is arguably best known for when it comes to offense: running backs. Every great Seahawks team has been defined by an elite ground attack, led by some of the best backs to ever play.

Interestingly, while he appeared last week on the quarterbacks list, Russell Wilson is actually No. 5 all time in franchise rushing yards at 4,689.

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Penn State’s all-time first-round NFL draft picks

Every Penn State football player ever drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in school history.

In the history of the NFL draft, only a handful of schools have had more players drafted by NFL franchises than Penn State. The Nittany Lions have sent over 360 players through the NFL draft over the years, and that number continues to climb every year. And when it comes to first-round picks, Penn State has had a solid number of those as well, including some top draft picks.

Lenny Moore, arguably the best player in Penn State football history, is appropriately the first player in program history to be selected by an NFL franchise in the NFL draft. Since then, Penn State players have been selected in the first round numerous times through the decades with players like Shane Conlan, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, LaVar Arrington, Saquon Barkley, and Micah Parsons.

Here is a look at every first-round NFL draft pick in Penn State history, starting with the first.

Saquon Barkley leads Penn State in rushing touchdowns, where does everyone else fall?

Here are Penn State’s all-time rushing touchdown leaders heading into 2022. How long until Nick Singleton makes this list?

Penn State has a long list of successful running backs to its credit in both college and the NFL. So many names that college fans know and love are in the Penn State record books.

To round out our recap of the Penn State rushing records we look at the guys who always wanted to end a drive with six points. The guys who could be the work horse type back and finish things off in the endzone, the top rushing touchdown leaders of all-time.

There will be a lot of familiar names like [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] who lead the list but also players like [autotag]Franco Harris[/autotag], [autotag]Curt Warner[/autotag], and potential hall of famer [autotag]Ki-Jana Carter[/autotag]. All of these players left lasting impacts and will be remembered for the foreseeable future at Penn State for their accomplishments.

For now, lets see who made it to the end zone the most with the blue and white on them.

A surprising name leads Penn State’s all-time leading rushers

Who is Penn State’s all-time leading rusher? It may not be who first think of.

Penn State has had a large amount of notable running backs step foot on Beaver Stadium’s grass, including several college hall of fame players. Of those notable men, none of them are actually the all-time leading rusher in the program’s history.

Names like [autotag]Larry Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag], and [autotag]Curt Warner[/autotag] are names you expect to see but none of them lead the list. Leading the list is a running back who was more than reliable during his tenure. Speaking of reliability, Penn State has strayed away from the run game but recent recruiting points to that aspect of the game making a grand return.

For the time being, while [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] decides what he wants to do with the offense, we can just hope that [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] joins this list one day. Until then, take some time to jump in the way-back machine in Penn State history.

Penn State’s all-time best single-game rushing performances entering 2022

Here are the top single-game rushing performances in Penn State history.

Penn State has always prides itself on two things; defense and running the football. The running game has been lacking as of late but with new high-ranking recruit [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] on campus there is much-needed renewed optimism.

No one is expecting record-breaking performances from Singleton anytime soon but the potential he has is limitless. Over the years there have been several names that are recognizable across the landscape of the sport who have played for Penn State. On top of that, there are Pro Football Hall of Famers who have Penn State as their alma mater.

For now, Nick Singleton will be looking to excel on a week-by-week basis but let’s say he has a big week. How big a week does he need to have in order to make this list of all-time single-game rushing records? See for yourself.

Seahawks: Who are the top 11 rushing leaders in franchise history?

Here are the top 11 rushing leaders in franchise history.

Rashaad Penny finished the 2021 season on a tear unlike anything we’ve seen from a Seahawks running back before. Considering all the great names that have played the position for Seattle, that’s really saying something. Let’s check in where Penny ranks all-time.

Here are the top 11 rushing leaders in franchise history.

By the numbers: Top 10 single-game rushing records in Penn State Nittany Lions history

Larry Johsnon owns the top four single-game rushing records in Penn State history. Who else is in the top 10?

When it comes to single-game rushing production, nobody set the bar as high at Penn State as Larry Johnson. Johnson, the school’s only 2,000-yard rusher in program history, torched overmatched opponents on his hot streak in 2002. As a result, Johnson owns the top four all-time single-game rushing totals in Penn State history.

For a school with as many talented running backs as Penn State has had over the years, Johnson’s 2002 season stands out, and his big-game performances will be difficult for any future running back at Penn State to catch due to the nature of the offense in today’s game. Penn State has evolved with the flow of the game to rely more on big plays through the air as opposed to grinding out yards on the ground. This is evident by contrasting this list of the top 10 single-game rushing performances with the list of top 10 single-game passing records.

Since Johnson’s 2,000-yard season in 2002, there have been just six games with a Penn State running back going for at least 200 yards on the ground. Saquon Barkley’s magical 211-yard performance against Iowa in 2017 remains the high mark on the ground for Penn State running backs since Johnson’s 2002 season.

Here is a look at those top 10 individual rushing performances in Penn State history, with Johnson taking the top four spots all to himself. As a bonus, we’ll actually make this a top 11 because Larry Johnson tied one of his high marks, so we’ll give both one spot and slide in one more at the beginning of this list.

Penn State’s all-time leading rushers in Nittany Lions history

Where does Saquon Barkley rank among Penn State’s all-time leading rushers, including Franco Harris, Lydell Mitchell, and Ki-Jana Carter?

Maybe Penn State doesn’t have as strong a case to be made for Running Back U as some other programs, but the Nittany Lions have had their fair share of some of the best running backs in the game. From Lydell Mitchell to Franco Harris to Ki-Jana Carter and to Saquon Barkley, Penn State running backs have provided plenty of memories to fans over the years.

But who tops the list when it comes to Penn State’s all-time leading rushers list? Perhaps one of the more unassuming names to come through Happy Valley, Evan Royster. Royster may not have had the talent and skills of some of the others to suit up for the Nittany Lions over time, but his hard work and reliable performance stood the test of time. And having the opportunity to break into the offense early on and play his full four years of eligibility helped him continue to climb the ranks of Penn State’s all-time leading rushers.

With three 1,000-yard seasons, it has proven to be difficult to catch Royster, but his mark may not be untouchable. Saquon Barkley came close to catching Royster and would have easily surpassed him had Barkley remained at Penn State for one more season of eligibility instead of heading to the NFL. But as things stand now, Royster should feel pretty comfortable atop the leaderboard for a little while longer before anyone makes a run at his school record.

Here is a look at Penn State’s top 20 all-time leading rushers.

All data is credited to College Football Reference. This list will be updated accordingly.

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