Saquon Barkley, Micah Parsons, Abdul Carter, Trace McSorley, and Tyler Warren are just some of the big-time names that every Penn State football fan knows. But what about the players folks tend to forget?

Over the last decade, plenty of Nittany Lions have made their mark on the program without receiving the same recognition as its biggest stars.

With that in mind, we compiled a list of five recent Penn State football players who deserve a little more credit.

Nick Scott (2014–2018)

It’s safe to say Nick Scott’s Nittany Lions career got off to a strong start. The eventual safety returned his first career kickoff for 58 yards.

Scott continued to make an impact on special teams during his first two seasons while also playing running back.

However, his career took a different turn when he switched to safety as a junior. Despite the position change, Scott remained an impactful player.

Scott’s senior season marked his breakout. Scott started 12 games at safety, recording 65 tackles, three interceptions, one blocked field goal, and a fumble recovery.

His contributions went beyond the field.

Scott shared the Bob Mitinger Memorial Award with Johnathan Thomas, recognizing courage, character, and social responsibility. He also received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and an honorable mention for All-Big Ten from the media.

Scott’s willingness to play wherever Penn State needed him is what makes him one of the most underrated Nittany Lions of the last decade.

Saeed Blacknall (2014–2017)

When Penn State fans think about the 2016 Big Ten Championship, Saeed Blacknall deserves to be one of the first names that comes to mind.

Blacknall delivered one of his biggest performances against Wisconsin, catching six passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns to help Penn State win the conference title.

Playing alongside stars like Barkley, Chris Godwin, and Mike Gesicki, Blacknall didn’t always receive the recognition he deserved.

Over four seasons, Blacknall recorded 50 receptions for 979 yards and seven touchdowns.

He might not have been Penn State’s top receiver every week, but when the Nittany Lions needed him most, Blacknall delivered on one of the biggest stages.

Jan Johnson (2015–2019)

Jan Johnson’s journey at Penn State was anything but ordinary.

After redshirting in 2015, Johnson also spent time wrestling heavyweight for Penn State’s national championship-winning wrestling program before working his way into the football lineup.

Johnson eventually became Penn State’s starting middle linebacker in 2018 and earned a scholarship that October. By his final season in 2019, he had worked his way up to team captain.

In 2019, Johnson started all 13 games, recording 64 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

His biggest performances included a career-high 14 tackles against Buffalo, an interception against Maryland, and 11 tackles with three tackles for loss against Minnesota.

His efforts earned him honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from both the coaches and the media.

From a walk-on to a team captain, Johnson’s journey deserves more recognition.

Robert Windsor (2015–2019)

Robert Windsor might not be the first name that comes to mind when discussing Penn State’s defensive line over the last decade, but his production speaks for itself.

After redshirting in 2015, Windsor gradually worked his way into the defensive rotation before becoming a full-time starter during his final two seasons.

His breakout came in 2018, when he recorded 7.5 sacks and earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition from The Associated Press.

Windsor also earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording two sacks against Wisconsin.

Standing about 6-foot-4 and weighing nearly 300 pounds, Windsor was a force along the defensive line. In 2017, he tied for fourth nationally with three fumble recoveries, while his 2018 sack rate ranked sixth in the Big Ten.

During his final season in 2019, Windsor started all 13 games and earned third-team All-Big Ten recognition from conference coaches. One of his best performances came against Iowa, when he recorded six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Although he didn’t always receive the same attention as some of Penn State’s other defensive stars, Windsor consistently made his presence felt in the trenches.

Ryan Bates (2015–2018)

Offensive linemen rarely get the recognition they deserve, and Ryan Bates is a perfect example.

Bates started three years and helped anchor Penn State’s offensive line during one of the program’s most successful offensive stretches.

Playing alongside stars like McSorley, Barkley, and Miles Sanders, Bates helped create opportunities for some of Penn State’s biggest playmakers.

His versatility was one of his biggest strengths, as he could play both guard and tackle.

Bates played an important role in Penn State’s 2016 Big Ten championship season, helping protect an offense that put up 465 yards against USC in the Rose Bowl.

While players like Barkley and McSorley got much of the attention, Bates did the work up front to make those big plays possible. He might not have scored touchdowns, but his contributions to Penn State’s offensive success shouldn’t go unnoticed.