Turkey Bowls are a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition. There’s nothing like getting together with some family and friends and playing some football.

However, for those of us who are a little competitive, having a Penn State football player on your Turkey Bowl team would help give us an obvious edge. Here are some of our staffers’ picks for which Penn State football player, past or present, they’d like to have on their Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl team.

Mikey DeAngelis: Mike Gesicki

I thought long and hard about who would be the biggest difference-maker on my team. I picked Mike Gesicki, one of Penn State’s most iconic tight ends, but really any tight end would be my pick.

As a tight end, Gesicki is big, so none of my uncles or cousins would stand in his way, but he can also catch, so even a mediocre quarterback should be able to get something in his hands. Combining good hands with size, I don’t see how Gesicki could be stopped this Thanksgiving.

Joe Lister: Saquon Barkley

There’s no question as to why Barkley shouldn’t be on an All-Turkey Bowl team. He has been electric this season and was a force for Penn State.

As long as the running back doesn’t physically break anyone, there’s nothing bad that can come from Barkley at your Thanksgiving. The guy seems like someone who’d be cool to hang out with, which is a double bonus.

Brady Miller: Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson is mostly known for being a fullback for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. He even won Super Bowl 50 with the Seahawks. Before his time in the NFL, he was a quarterback and a running back at Penn State. He became the first player in Penn State history to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 500 yards in the same season.

I think his ability to be a dual-threat passer and rusher is elite at the Turkey Bowl level. Watch out for double passes and trick plays with him. Whether he’s throwing a 60-yard dime into my hands or he’s trucking defenders, my team is unbeatable with Michael Robinson.

Frankie Marzano: Olu Fashanu

I’m going to do what many college football coaches fail to do: build an unbreakable offensive line. The first step to throwing dimes is making sure you have the protection up front to be able to do that. Nobody in my family will touch me if Olu Fashanu is there blocking. I could also probably use him as a running back since he is still faster than the average human being. Give me Olu every time.

Brendan Wagner: Matt McGloin

As the original “Red Rocket,” McGloin was the first Penn State quarterback I remember watching growing up. I was his biggest fan as a little kid, wearing his No. 11 jersey around everywhere. Tearing up a Turkey Bowl with him would be a full-circle moment.

Larkin Richards: Tank Smith

Although my family never hosted a Turkey Bowl, I’m all for having a football game on Thanksgiving. Of course, going to a football school, there’s always that one player you know would crush it, no matter the severity of the game. That being said, my go-to choice is Tank Smith.

Listen, I wanted Smith on my team way before his fame against Rutgers. Any time we’ve needed him, he’s shown up. He’s an absolute beast at 5’7″ and full of tremendous power. He’s unstoppable. You’re doing it wrong if you aren’t running the ball like Smith. Turkey Bowl or Rose Bowl, Smith my first pick every day of the week. If you’re reading this and don’t know who Tank Smith is, know he’s a killer running back and the captain of my Turkey Bowl team.

Nolan Wick: Jahan Dotson

I’m biased as a Commanders fan, but I’d love to have Jahan Dotson on my Turkey Bowl team. Dotson is a fast, skilled wide receiver in many ways. All I’d need to do is give him the ball, and he’d be fast enough to outrun everyone else. If that doesn’t work, he’s no stranger to the deep ball either. He’d easily help my team get the win, and I’d love to have him.

Sam Fremin: Barney Amor

Look, I don’t play Thanksgiving football to have a good time. I play to win. Football is a fight for field position. Amor gives my team the flexibility to make intelligent fourth-down decisions and win the battle for field position.

Instead of slumming it with the casuals who feel the need to go for it on every fourth down, my team could employ the talents of one of the nation’s most exciting punters. Among Amor’s 46 punts on the season, there have been some bangers. In crucial spots, Amor would help stuff my opponents near their own end zone, and my defense would feast on the turkeys trying to outmaneuver us. Think smarter, not harder.

Gabe Angieri: Chris Godwin

No one is covering Chris Godwin in my Turkey Bowl game. When you think of all the great teams, a lot of them have a great quarterback-wideout duo. You had Montana-Rice, Brady-Moss, Manning-Harrison, and here you’d have Angieri-Godwin. Unstoppable.