Biggest Busts in PSU Football History

NittanyBuff

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Oct 30, 2021
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I'll start with some recent names:

- Justin Shorter
- Ricky Slade
- Enzo Jennings
- Lamont Wade (debatable since he still started quite a bit)



Anyone know why Ricky Slade washed up so bad? Had decent stats in limited action for us, then never played a down at ODU. What happened?
Morelli jumps out to me, had such high expectations for him.
 

NittanyBuff

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Oct 30, 2021
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Sometimes a player can be a huge bust for us, but go somewhere else and turn out really good. Best example is Jeff Hosteller. Really was a flame out for Paterno at QB, but when we went to WVU, he had a great career as a QB and then went to the NFL where he won a Super Bowl with the Giants. Why he was a bust here is a head-scratcher....
Was he really a bust or did Blackledge just look better at the same time?
 
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Steve JG

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Mar 25, 2024
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Sometimes a player can be a huge bust for us, but go somewhere else and turn out really good. Best example is Jeff Hosteller. Really was a flame out for Paterno at QB, but when we went to WVU, he had a great career as a QB and then went to the NFL where he won a Super Bowl with the Giants. Why he was a bust here is a head-scratcher....
He was not so much a bust as stuck in a numbers game at QB. My recollection was Paterno basically blessed his leaving as he knew he was starting caliber QB but was stuck behind ? Blackledge? I think
 
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Anon1683841811

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May 11, 2023
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He was not so much a bust as stuck in a numbers game at QB. My recollection was Paterno basically blessed his leaving as he knew he was starting caliber QB but was stuck behind ? Blackledge? I think
Hostetler was a year older than Blackledge. He backed up Dayle Tate the year before Blackledge arrived. Tate had backed up Fusina and got the starting job after Fusina graduated. Blackledge arrives the year after Tate graduated. Instead of handing the starting QB job to Hostetler, there was a competition and Blackledge won. Hostetler transferred to WVU the next year.
 

Jason1743

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Oct 20, 2021
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Justin King and Derrick Williams(D Wheels) got us out of the dark ages when they came to PSU.

I think Austin Scott was the biggest bust. He got his high ranking because in high school his coach would keep him in when the games were well in hand to up his rushing yards and TDs to make him look better then he actually was. Then again, the PSU offense, the HD Offense, was too predictable back then so it may have been the PSU coaching back then.
Firstly, a lot of ā€œ5 starā€ bust, including Austin Scott, were 4 star prospects.
Secondly you are incorrect about Scott. He was a GREAT HS player. Many, if not most, of Scottā€™s games as a senior were played with a running clock in the second half because they were so one sided.
Scott was a disappointment because he was an idiot . Nice kid, but not a lot going on between the ears.
 
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psuro

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Oct 12, 2021
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Sometimes a player can be a huge bust for us, but go somewhere else and turn out really good. Best example is Jeff Hosteller. Really was a flame out for Paterno at QB, but when we went to WVU, he had a great career as a QB and then went to the NFL where he won a Super Bowl with the Giants. Why he was a bust here is a head-scratcher....


A bust? No. Beaten out? Yes. By the guy in the photo.
 

psuvol

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Nov 6, 2021
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The first post I ever read on a PSU football board was calling Ron Graham "The Human Hash Mark"... Always remember that one.
 

TheBigUglies

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Oct 26, 2021
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Firstly, a lot of ā€œ5 starā€ bust, including Austin Scott, were 4 star prospects.
Secondly you are incorrect about Scott. He was a GREAT HS player. Many, if not most, of Scottā€™s games as a senior were played with a running clock in the second half because they were so one sided.
Scott was a disappointment because he was an idiot . Nice kid, but not a lot going on between the ears.
I agree, he was a great HS player. Yeah, he was still running the ball in the 2nd half with the running clock. There was a lot of animosity at the time from other coaches in the area because his head coach kept him in the 2nd half with the running clock. Can't remember the high school coach's name but he wasn't very well liked in the eastern part of the state.
 

bbrown

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Nov 1, 2021
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Was he really a bust or did Blackledge just look better at the same time?
This Up Here GIF by Chord Overstreet
 

pendal1

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Sep 1, 2024
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Quintus would have been pretty good if he had just stayed away from the Wacky Weed.
Yeah, these developments are the kinds of things that set programs back. You get a top player in the country and it doesn't work out. At the time we fans were really excited about getting Quintus but it didn't work out.
 

psuro

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Yeah, these developments are the kinds of things that set programs back. You get a top player in the country and it doesn't work out. At the time we fans were really excited about getting Quintus but it didn't work out.
I used to work the door at a former local establishment and he came over one night and was completely baked. We would not let him in, and told him that in no uncertain terms. He was not happy, but he stumbled away. Gotta admit, for a brief moment, I was worried for my health. He was a big, mean, dude.
 

pendal1

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Sep 1, 2024
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I used to work the door at a former local establishment and he came over one night and was completely baked. We would not let him in, and told him that in no uncertain terms. He was not happy, but he stumbled away. Gotta admit, for a brief moment, I was worried for my health. He was a big, mean, dude.
Yikes. You would have needed some help there my friend.
 

TigersandLions

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Nov 14, 2021
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Part of DWill's issues, at least IMO, is that after he broke his arm freshman year the staff put too much weight on him.
Agree - before the broken arm, he looked so much faster. pre-broken arm, I remember him getting the ball on a few running plays in the red zone (maybe reverses), and he was untouchable. Then he seemed to almost get slower every year. I always blamed the HIIT program... . But I think this topic has been discussed here in years past.
 
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I agree, he was a great HS player. Yeah, he was still running the ball in the 2nd half with the running clock. There was a lot of animosity at the time from other coaches in the area because his head coach kept him in the 2nd half with the running clock. Can't remember the high school coach's name but he wasn't very well liked in the eastern part of the state.
If it matters, thecoach was Rob Melosky
 
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bbrown

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Agree - before the broken arm, he looked so much faster. pre-broken arm, I remember him getting the ball on a few running plays in the red zone (maybe reverses), and he was untouchable. Then he seemed to almost get slower every year. I always blamed the HIIT program... . But I think this topic has been discussed here in years past.
Oh yea, the HIT program was a big ol lightening rod. Remeber the rumors of players going to other Gyms to work out?šŸ˜³
 

LB99

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Oct 27, 2021
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Oh yea, the HIT program was a big ol lightening rod. Remeber the rumors of players going to other Gyms to work out?šŸ˜³
It was one of the first things Oā€™Brien canned when he got to PSU. His first requested football facility to be upgraded was the weight room.
 
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jp3272

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Dec 26, 2021
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How about the 1992 team when they agreed to play in the Blockbuster Bowl before the season started?
 

saturdaysarebetter

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Jun 28, 2018
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I hate to see the term bust used or label someone a bust when describing teenagers and young men who achieved more in their athletic careers than all the keyboard warriors on here. Perhaps didn't meet expectations?
 
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SleepyLion

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Sep 1, 2022
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There are no busts. PSU was undoubtedly not the only program interested in these kids. Recruiting is a risk and some kids just don't pan out. I don't like this thread
Yeah these guys are the only busts... Jack Ham , Franco Harris , Mike Michalske , Lenny Moore , Mike Munchak , Dave Robinson
... their busts are bronze and can be found in Canton, OH.
 
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