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On 2/22/2022: A Look At Some Famous Penn State No. 2s

Today is 2/22/2022.

It’s a truly unique date that we won’t see anything like until perhaps 2/2/2222, nearly 200 years in the future. At 2:22 p.m. on this day, you won’t experience anything like that ever again in your lifetime.

Let that sink in…

With that in mind and to honor this special date with a mouthful of twos, let’s take a look at some of the most famous (or infamous) 2s that are Penn State-related.

No. 2 Marcus Allen

Let’s begin with one of the first No 2s that probably comes to mind for most Penn State football fans.

Allen was one of the hardest-hitting safeties in Penn State history and led the Nittany Lions’ defense across a four-year career. Of course, that’s not taking away from stars like Adrian Amos, Jaquan Brisker, or Troy Apke. Allen was simply a different breed of defensive back.

Allen is one of just six Nittany Lion to ever cross 300 career tackles. His most famous play arguable came when he blocked that fateful kick against Ohio State in 2016.

Matt Freed | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

To add, he’s also the star of one of the coolest photos ever. I’m proud to say that I am the owner of a tapestry of this hung in my house. It’s truly glorious.

William Henry Allen

Penn State’s second president! Allen served as Penn State’s president from just 1864 to 1866. Under his watch, Penn State secured rights to land-grant funds and helped reorganize Penn State’s curriculum to begin instruction in military tactics (in accordance with the Land-Grant Act).

John Cappelletti

Who could forget Penn State’s lone Heisman winner? Cappelletti, a unanimous All-American in 1973, became one of the Nittany Lions’ greatest running backs ever while wearing No. 22. He later went on to become the No. 11 overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft.

As a senior, Cappelletti racked up 1,522 yards and 17 touchdowns to power Penn State to an undefeated 12-0 season.

No. 2 Overall Picks

Two of the best players to ever come out of Penn State were selected No. 2 overall in their respective NFL Draft classes.

The New York Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley in 2018. Of course, their divisional counterpart, now known as the Washington Commanders, selected linebacker LaVar Arrington second overall in 2000.

Barkley and Arrington are two of the hundreds of NFL prospects that Penn State has produced. Now, they will have their names etched in the program’s history books forever.

Running back Blair Thomas, although a slightly lesser-known name by the Penn State faithful, went No. 2 overall as well in 1990 to the New York Jets. Thomas was a Heisman finalist after rushing for 1,314 yards and scoring five touchdowns in his senior season.

Two No. 2 ‘Number Two’ Quarterbacks

Ta’Quan Roberson, now freshly transferred to UConn, and Tommy Stevens, who is currently an NFL free agent after being drafted by the New Orleans Saints, both wore jersey No. 2 and were Penn State’s backup quarterbacks during their tenures.

Roberson didn’t have nearly the impact as a player that Stevens had as a Nittany Lion, but they both wore the same number. And although Will Levis separates the two from being back-to-back backups, the headline was just too good not to utilize.

Penn State’s 2 + 2 Plan

OK, time for a non-football-related one.

Most Penn Staters have certainly heard of the university’s “2 + 2” plan. It isn’t one that most colleges can offer, but due to the abundance of campuses that Penn State has across the commonwealth, it’s a unique experience that allows students to start their major at one campus, and after two years, transition to University Park to finish the final two.

The plan helps present Penn State’s opportunities to a larger group of people, expanding the community which in turn has brought me and many others roommates and friends for life.

Ohio State In The 2016 Big Ten East Standings

One more sports one, for the culture.

To any Buckeyes fans reading this, none of us want to hear about the other years. Just let us have this one, please.

‘Donda 2’ — Kanye West

Finally, in honor of what is allegedly (don’t count on it) supposed to drop today, February 22, 2022, Ye’s 11th studio album, Donda 2.

You may or may not know that Kanye West has performed three times at Penn State, and twice in the last decade. He made his inaugural appearance in Happy Valley in 2014 for his ‘Yeezus’ tour and once again in 2016 for his ‘Saint Pablo Tour.’

Editor’s Pick: The Daily Collegian

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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About the Author

Zach Donaldson

Zach is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. He is a writer for Onward State and serves as an editor for Penn State’s CommRadio. He hails from Downingtown, Pa., or in other words "just outside of Philly." When he's not watching or ranting about Philly sports, you can probably find him at the gym. If you like sports tweets, follow him on Twitter @zachdonaldson_ and all inquiries can go to [email protected].

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