Penn State Football: Top 10 players in program history

By Zac Voynow | Oct 17, 2019

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks on the field during the first half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl against the Washington Huskies at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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10 SEP 1994: PENN STATE QUARTERBACK KERRY COLLINS SETS TO THROW AGAINST USC AT STATE COLLEGE, PA. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart/ALLSPORT /

9. Kerry Collins, QB

Kerry Collins played for Penn State from 1991-94. He is known as the best Penn State quarterback of all time. He was the leader and best player of the 1994 team that went 12-0 and defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

In 1994, Collins won the Maxwell Award, which is given to the nation’s most outstanding player. He also won the Davey O’Brien award, which is given to the nation’s most outstanding quarterback. He also finished in fourth place in Heisman voting. In 1994, Collins also set a school record with 172.86 efficiency rating, which was the fourth-best mark in NCAA history.

Collins success didn’t stop at Penn State. He was the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NFL expansion draft. He was the first ever selection by the Carolina Panthers. Collins would become more or less a journeyman in the NFL, as he played for six different teams over 17 seasons. He was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl twice, and led the New York Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, as well as leading the Carolina Panthers to the NFC Championship game in 1996.

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