UNIVERSITY PARK — Paul Posluszny etched himself among the all-time greats in Penn State history with his astounding career in the blue and white.
He returns to Happy Valley Friday as part of continuing that celebration with a bobblehead night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park where the State College Spikes will take on the Trenton Thunder at 6:35 p.m.
Despite it being now almost 20 years since Posluszny tied up his black shoes at Beaver Stadium, the opportunity to return to a community where he met his now wife and be the most recent Nittany Lion honored with a bobblehead is a humbling experience.
“It’s very humbling to be a part of the group and to think that it’s been 20 years since I’ve been at Penn State, and to see that you’re, still part of that family is special,” Posluszny told NSN.
Posluszny was as special as they come on the field where racked up back-to-back Chuck Bednarik awards in 2005 and 2006 respectively as the top college defensive player. His performance earned him enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Penn State Great Paul Posluszny Elected to College Football Hall of Fame
“That was that was special for a lot of reasons, for my family, so that my parents had the opportunity to see that,” Posluszny said. “My brothers and sisters because they were all such a huge part of really making that happen. And then the importance of, I feel like that was a great opportunity for for that team, or for that group of guys, to be recognized more than just an individual player because thinking back on that group, it was a special group of guys who got along played really well together on the field.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.That group included guys like current linebackers coach Dan Connor, Levi Brown, Tamba Hali, Derrick Williams and Michael Robinson. It wasn’t always pretty, in fact, Posluszny was on a 3-9 team his freshman year and 4-7 team before the Nittany Lions returned to glory in 2005.
“Those teams that we were a part of did not start off well when I was when I was a freshman, where we earned the worst record in Penn State football history, and then two years later, we go to the Orange Bowl, win the Big 10 Championship, and are in a two seconds away from having the opportunity to play in the national championship,” Posluszny said.
It was those experiences and being a part of the program under Joe Paterno that helped prepare Posluszny for a 10-year career with the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Everything that you learned at Penn State and you only realize this afterwards, I mean, everything that Coach Paterno
talked about being a professional, being on time, just having more skills outside of just being able to play on the football field, all that transferred to the NFL in a sense of preparation, how to handle yourself,” Posluszny said. “It was interesting. You end up talking to general managers in the NFL, and they would say, yes, we know what we’re getting when we when we draft a Penn State guy. And I think that was a credit to Coach Paterno and the organization that he created, because he we developed a brand, in a sense.”
For Posluszny, it’s what’s helped make Penn State special and have an impact far beyond the football field.
“When you get into the NFL and you hear about what other guys went through, their college transition, and you realize that what a special place that Penn State is, and the importance of Penn State football and how that fits into the community,” Posluszny said. “It’s just very different and very unique. I’m sure if you go to Texas or USC, or, you know, other people will tell you the same thing, but for us, it seemed like it you really realized the importance of being a part of something that was much more powerful than than just playing football if that makes sense. It was a way of doing things, a way to carry yourself and that, and that is what’s had the lasting impact.”
