Franco Harris — Penn State (Big Ten) (1969-1971)
Mike Munchak makes a really strong case for this one, but fullback Franco Harris is our pick for the best football player to ever come from Penn State. At Penn State, Harris was not an All-American probably because he was a ball carrier and underused, but the Pittsburgh Steelers saw enough to draft him and he was 13th overall NFL Draft pick in 1972. With the Steelers, he became a big part of the team’s dynasty in the 1970s, being named 1975 Super Bowl MVP and winning four Super Bowls. In addition, he was a three-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, eventually earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Franco Harris — Penn State (Big Ten) (1969-1971)
Dan Marino — Pittsburgh (ACC) (1979-1982)
This one was another really tough call because Pittsburgh ranks fourth out of all the college programs in the number of Pro Football Hall of Famers. Icons like Larry Fitzgerald, Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka are impossible to overlook, though Dan Marino has to be the best Panther yet. At Pittsburgh, Marino had a strong career, being a first-team All-American selection and a Heisman Trophy finalist. In the NFL, however, he was almost untouchable, setting many passing records and becoming an NFL idol to young quarterbacks. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro teams, and he was a five-time league leader in passing yards.
Dan Marino — Pittsburgh (ACC) (1979-1982)
