Two-time Penn State All-American linebacker Shane Conlan was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame yesterday in New York City.

Conlan thanked his Penn State family, which he said has gone through a lot over the past couple of years. He also paid special thanks to former coach Tom Bradley, who was the only man who recruited Conlan.

“I was a small kid from Frewsburg, N.Y., who weighed 175 pounds, and Tom Bradley found me, convinced Joe to take me, and it worked out,” Conlan said.

Conlan also said he wished Joe Paterno could be around to see his induction, as he wrote a letter lobbying for his induction prior to his passing.

Conlan is the 18th Penn Stater to be inducted, honoring a prolific career capped in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. A 1985 and 1986 All-American, Conlan was a Butkus Award finalist in 1986. His 79 tackles led Penn State’s ’86 National Championship winning team. In the National Championship, the Fiesta Bowl against Miami, Conlan’s two interceptions secured not only the victory but the Most Valuable Defensive Player award. His 274 career tackles are the second-most in school history. Conlan was selected eighth in the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played in the league for nine years, collecting 751 tackles.

Elected to the College Hall of Fame in May, Tuesday marked his official induction.

Conlan’s second interception in the Fiesta Bowl led to D.J. Dozier’s game-sealing touchdown run. Dozier, along with guard Steve Wisniewski, was also on the ballot for this year’s College Hall of Fame class, though neither were inducted. Both played for Penn State in the ’86 Fiesta Bowl. Conlan’s interception occurs at the 9:45 mark below:

Conlan was honored with a College Football Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute during Penn State’s home loss to Ohio State, the first of a list of activities that newly inducted Hall of Famers complete.

Check out Conlan’s comment at the induction ceremony below.