Abdul Carter is the next 11
- Thread starter PSUJam
- Start date
This is a very good sign. I would love to see a brief documentary on the #11 Jersey and the behind the scenes process and conversations that occur between both players and coaches reguarding who gets to done that specific jersey. In retrospect, was there a defensive number 11 on last year's roster?
I bet there are a lot of numbers at Penn State that had a lot of good players wear the jersey.
# 11 certainly is a great number.
# 11 certainly is a great number.
Funny thing about numbers and Penn State legacies. Some of those who are regarded as the GOAT at certain positions had no one else following them receive the same number.
Mike Reid was the best, most "clutch" defensive lineman, or at least DT in PSU history. Yet his #68 seems to have had no relevance for subsequent DTs since 1969. The great ones from later years like Mike Hartenstine, Bruce Clark, Lou Benfatti, and others never donned 68.
The same would apply to 2 of the greatest LBs ever to play at PSU: Dennis Onkotz 35 and Jack Ham 33, both in the CFB Hall of Fame.
Offensively, one would expect John Cappelletti's #22 to be sought after by RBs that followed him. Yet, other than Evan Royster, I can't recall a star RB putting on #22 while it was still available. In fact #42 has more All Americans (Lenny Moore and DJ Dozier) sporting the # than 22 has.
Because Penn State is still accepted by many as "Linebacker U," if any position deserved a legacy, it would be LB. But I would argue that #31 is more deserving of legacy status than #11. Three players earned 1st-team All American status wearing #31: Andre Collins, Shane Conlan, and Paul Posluszny.
Lavar Arrington was sensational and a force that disrupted opposing offenses. He has since been inducted into the CFB HOF, I believe. While Parsons had a good 2019 that earned him 1st team AA, he was not really the dynamic linebacker that the 6 other LBs mentioned above were. At least the other 6 included pass interceptions in their highlight reels.
Of course, I'm just an old guy. Maybe 11 looks better than 31 on a jersey. But, if there's a legacy number at Penn State for a single position, it would certainly have to be 31 at LB.
Mike Reid was the best, most "clutch" defensive lineman, or at least DT in PSU history. Yet his #68 seems to have had no relevance for subsequent DTs since 1969. The great ones from later years like Mike Hartenstine, Bruce Clark, Lou Benfatti, and others never donned 68.
The same would apply to 2 of the greatest LBs ever to play at PSU: Dennis Onkotz 35 and Jack Ham 33, both in the CFB Hall of Fame.
Offensively, one would expect John Cappelletti's #22 to be sought after by RBs that followed him. Yet, other than Evan Royster, I can't recall a star RB putting on #22 while it was still available. In fact #42 has more All Americans (Lenny Moore and DJ Dozier) sporting the # than 22 has.
Because Penn State is still accepted by many as "Linebacker U," if any position deserved a legacy, it would be LB. But I would argue that #31 is more deserving of legacy status than #11. Three players earned 1st-team All American status wearing #31: Andre Collins, Shane Conlan, and Paul Posluszny.
Lavar Arrington was sensational and a force that disrupted opposing offenses. He has since been inducted into the CFB HOF, I believe. While Parsons had a good 2019 that earned him 1st team AA, he was not really the dynamic linebacker that the 6 other LBs mentioned above were. At least the other 6 included pass interceptions in their highlight reels.
Of course, I'm just an old guy. Maybe 11 looks better than 31 on a jersey. But, if there's a legacy number at Penn State for a single position, it would certainly have to be 31 at LB.
Sean Redman, Kenny Watson and Brian Milne all were in the offensive backfield and wore #22.Funny thing about numbers and Penn State legacies. Some of those who are regarded as the GOAT at certain positions had no one else following them receive the same number.
Mike Reid was the best, most "clutch" defensive lineman, or at least DT in PSU history. Yet his #68 seems to have had no relevance for subsequent DTs since 1969. The great ones from later years like Mike Hartenstine, Bruce Clark, Lou Benfatti, and others never donned 68.
The same would apply to 2 of the greatest LBs ever to play at PSU: Dennis Onkotz 35 and Jack Ham 33, both in the CFB Hall of Fame.
Offensively, one would expect John Cappelletti's #22 to be sought after by RBs that followed him. Yet, other than Evan Royster, I can't recall a star RB putting on #22 while it was still available. In fact #42 has more All Americans (Lenny Moore and DJ Dozier) sporting the # than 22 has.
Because Penn State is still accepted by many as "Linebacker U," if any position deserved a legacy, it would be LB. But I would argue that #31 is more deserving of legacy status than #11. Three players earned 1st-team All American status wearing #31: Andre Collins, Shane Conlan, and Paul Posluszny.
Lavar Arrington was sensational and a force that disrupted opposing offenses. He has since been inducted into the CFB HOF, I believe. While Parsons had a good 2019 that earned him 1st team AA, he was not really the dynamic linebacker that the 6 other LBs mentioned above were. At least the other 6 included pass interceptions in their highlight reels.
Of course, I'm just an old guy. Maybe 11 looks better than 31 on a jersey. But, if there's a legacy number at Penn State for a single position, it would certainly have to be 31 at LB.
I clearly said "star RB." None of those 3 you list were "star running backs." Sean Redman? Milne was a good FB, and Watson a good kick returner. Neither was the lead RB during any of his years on the team.
There was certainly no dearth of talent at RB from which to choose for the "honor" of wearing #22.
I don't mean to be argumentative about this topic. I just am not a fan of creating a legacy out of a number that really isn't all that much of a legacy.
31 (Conlan, Collins, and Poz)
11 (Arrington, Bowman, and Parsons plus Bell)
11 trumps 31 based on 11's top 3 compared to 31's top 3 when you include the NFL. 11 is also a brotherhood with LaVar usually leading the charge. Spider was behind trying to make 31 a special # at LB by giving it to Zordich because he was worthy. He switched to 9 as a RS Frosh or Soph. Cam Brown was given 31 and he switched to 6 as a soph. It seems like every LB that was given 31 rejects it.
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