Penn State has produced some of the greatest players in college football history, making an all-time starting lineup nearly impossible to build.

From Hall of Famers like Franco Harris and Jack Ham to more recent stars like Saquon Barkley and Abdul Carter, the Nittany Lions have had no shortage of talent at every position.

So, if one had to build one Penn State team using the best players in program history, who would make the cut?

Here is one attempt at building the ultimate Nittany Lions lineup, based on college production, individual accolades, and impact at Penn State.

Offense

Quarterback, Kerry Collins

Kerry Collins will lead this all-time team just as he led Penn State to an undefeated season in 1994.

Collins broke nine single-season records and helped Penn State win its first Big Ten championship. He was also named the 1994 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and won the Big Ten Silver Football Award.

Collins finished his Penn State career with a 21-5 record as a starter, 5,304 passing yards, and 39 touchdowns.

Running Back, Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley was an easy running back choice. He ranks second in school history in career rushing touchdowns (43), total touchdowns (53), and all-purpose yards (5,538).

Barkley was a unanimous consensus First-Team All-American in 2017 and a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. He also led Penn State to a Big Ten title in 2016.

Fullback, Franco Harris

The fullback position had to be added just to mention Franco Harris.

Harris rushed for 2,002 yards and 24 touchdowns during his Penn State career from 1969 to 1971. He helped lead the Nittany Lions to a 29-4 record over those three seasons under Joe Paterno.

Wide Receiver, Bobby Engram

Penn State’s all-time leader in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and 100-yard receiving games, Bobby Engram was a can’t-miss wide receiver.

He won the first-ever Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding college wide receiver. Engram earned All-America honors three times during his career.

Wide Receiver, Allen Robinson

Allen Robinson was a bright spot in a dark time in Penn State’s modern history.

He hauled in 177 receptions for 2,474 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns throughout his career.

Robinson became the first wideout to win the Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.

Tight End, Ted Kwalick

Ted Kwalick became Penn State’s first-ever two-time All-American, earning First-Team honors in 1967 and a unanimous selection in 1968.

He finished fourth in the 1968 Heisman Trophy voting, an incredibly rare feat for a tight end.

Left Tackle, Levi Brown

Levi Brown started four years for Penn State. He started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 2003, 10 games in 2004, and every game during his junior and senior seasons.

Brown was voted to the All-Big Ten First Team twice and named a Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated in 2005, followed by further All-America accolades in 2006.

Left Guard, Steve Wisniewski

Steve Wisniewski was a two-time college All-American and was named team MVP and co-captain as a senior in 1988.

He was also a member of Paterno’s undefeated 1986 Fiesta Bowl-winning team.

Center, Glenn Ressler

Glenn Ressler is one of the most accomplished linemen on this list.

In the 1964 season, he was named a consensus All-American and college lineman of the year.

Before the era of specialized single-position players, Ressler played on both sides of the ball and recorded 15 solo tackles against a top-ranked Ohio State.

Right Guard, Jeff Hartings

Jeff Hartings anchored Penn State’s famous undefeated 1994 offensive line, which led the nation in scoring.

Hartings was a two-time First-Team All-America selection and two-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree.

Right Tackle, Olu Fashanu

Olu Fashanu might come as a shock, but his dominance as a pass blocker earned him the final spot on the offensive line.

He did not allow a single sack on 382 pass-blocking snaps during his 2023 senior season and went his entire Penn State starting career without giving up a sack.

That same season, he was a consensus All-American, Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, and First-Team All-Big Ten selection.

Defense

Edge, Courtney Brown

Courtney Brown recorded 33 career sacks and 70 tackles for loss in his Penn State career.

His 1999 season was one to remember, as he won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was a consensus First-Team All-American.

Edge, Abdul Carter

Abdul Carter became Penn State’s highest-drafted defensive player since LaVar Arrington went No. 2 overall in 2000.

At Penn State, Carter was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American in 2024.

He also earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors at two different positions: linebacker in 2023 and edge rusher in 2024.

Defensive Tackle, Jared Odrick

Jared Odrick earned AFCA and NCAA First-Team All-America honors after a dominant senior season.

He won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2009 and earned back-to-back All-Conference First-Team selections.

Defensive Tackle, Devon Still

Devon Still won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2011 and earned consensus All-America honors.

Still was elected team captain during his senior season and was a finalist for the nation’s top interior lineman and national defensive player of the year awards.

Linebacker, LaVar Arrington

LaVar Arrington headlines the linebacker group. Arrington won the Chuck Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, and Jack Lambert Trophy in 1999.

He earned unanimous First-Team All-America honors following his dominant final season at Penn State and became the first sophomore in Big Ten history to win the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year award in 1998.

Linebacker, Paul Posluszny

Paul Posluszny won the Chuck Bednarik Award twice.

He earned the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker after Penn State’s Orange Bowl-winning 11-1 season in 2005. Posluszny also earned back-to-back consensus All-America honors.

Linebacker, Jack Ham

Jack Ham completes the linebacker group. Ham was a key member of Penn State’s defense before becoming a Pro Football Hall of Famer with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He blocked four punts in his Penn State career, a program record that still stands.

Cornerback, Alan Zemaitis

Alan Zemaitis is reunited with Posluszny on the all-time defense. He earned AP Second-Team All-America honors after anchoring the Penn State secondary during its 11-1 Orange Bowl title season.

Zemaitis earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2005 and Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2003 and 2004.

As a sophomore in 2003, he set the Big Ten and school single-season record with 207 interception return yards.

Cornerback, Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter Jr. was voted the Nittany Lions’ Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2022.

Multiple outlets named him a First-Team All-American after his shutdown senior campaign, and both the conference’s coaches and media named him a unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selection.

Safety, Neal Smith

Neal Smith holds the Penn State career record with 19 interceptions and shares the single-season record with 10 interceptions in 1969.

He was named a First-Team All-American safety as a senior.

Safety, Mark Robinson

Mark Robinson earned consensus First-Team All-America honors as a safety after a stellar junior campaign.

He earned back-to-back All-Regional honors while anchoring the Nittany Lions’ defensive backfield and won a national title in 1982.

Kicker, Kevin Kelly

Kevin Kelly graduated as Penn State’s all-time leading scorer with 417 career points, surpassing legendary running back Craig Fayak.

He also set the Big Ten record for career points by a kicker, breaking the previous mark held by Iowa’s Nate Kaeding.

Punter, Jordan Stout

Jordan Stout was named the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year in 2021, becoming the first Penn State player to win the award.

He was also selected as a First-Team All-Big Ten player and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter, in 2021.

Honorable Mentions

QB — Chuck Fusina

RB — Ki-Jana Carter

WR — Chris Godwin

WR — Jahan Dotson

TE — Mike Gesicki

OT — John Urschel

DL — Michael Haynes

DL — Carl Nassib

LB — Micah Parsons

LB — Shane Conlan

CB — Tariq Castro-Fields

S — Troy Apke

K — Robbie Gould