Biggest Busts in PSU Football History

[ILLINOISLION]

R J Luke’s sister had a cuter bust than R J did!

 

[NittanyBuff]

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]

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?

 

[Fac]

Bruce Branch
Terrence Phillips
Chris Sims

 

[Steve JG]

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

 

[EPC FAN]

False. No pocket awareness. Not that accurate and no mobility. Really wasn't even that good with O'Brien.

Bullcorn. He was a FRESHMAN.

 

[Anon1683841811]

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.

 

[psuro]

Quintus McDonald.

Quintus would have been pretty good if he had just stayed away from the Wacky Weed.

 

[Jason1743]

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 “5 star” 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 Scott’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.

 

[psuro]

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]

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

 

[TheBigUglies]

Firstly, a lot of “5 star” 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 Scott’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]

Was he really a bust or did Blackledge just look better at the same time?

 

[pendal1]

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]

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]

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.

 

[psuro]

Yikes. You would have needed some help there my friend.

 

[TigersandLions]

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.

 

[Nothing Special]

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

 

[LB99]

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

Skipped leg day ^^^^

 

[bbrown]

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?

 

[LB99]

Oh yea, the HIT program was a big ol lightening rod. Remeber the rumors of players going to other Gyms to work out?

It was one of the first things O’Brien canned when he got to PSU. His first requested football facility to be upgraded was the weight room.

 

[jp3272]

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

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

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?

 

[bdgan]

I'll add that RJ Luke did come w/ a lot of promise. Maybe the expectations were too high.

View attachment 696030

Latest 5* recruits?

 

[MtNittany]

Latest 5* recruits?

RJ Luke's Mom

 

[mfb5053]

I thought this whole topic was going to be about cleavage.

 

[NittanyBuff]

I thought this whole topic was going to be about cleavage.

We are do for a good who's the hottest, wore it best etc...

 

[olelion]

R J Luke’s sister had a cuter bust than R J did!

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

 

[SleepyLion]

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.

 

[BobPSU92]

Franklin era

 

[Nits74]

Tom Bill?

Not so sure about this one. I don't remember how heavily recruited he was. I know he had an off the field issue, but I also remember him as coming through in clutch situations. I'll put it this way, we've had worse QB's than Tom.

 

[PhillyBillyReprise]

Joel Haller

 

[WSTLion87]

In the legendary 1991 recruiting haul the many "experts" had J.T, Morris pegged as the top RB in the class.

 

[Fac]

Bruce Branch

 

[Taycro]

Does anyone know why Noah Cain and Devyn Ford didn't pan out? Cain was an injury, right?

Ford ran for 5.7 YPC on 52 attempts his freshman year, then only got 109 attempts the remaining 5 years of his career. What happened?

Edit: Wow, I just found out that Ford is currently in his sixth year. He's still playing for Notre Dame.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Does anyone know why Noah Cain and Devyn Ford didn't pan out? Cain was an injury, right?

Ford ran for 5.7 YPC on 52 attempts his freshman year, then only got 109 attempts the remaining 5 years of his career. What happened?

Edit: Wow, I just found out that Ford is currently in his sixth year. He's still playing for Notre Dame.

FWIW, Ford’s 52 for 294 his freshman year was…
Vs Idaho - 6 for 107
Vs everyone else - 46 for 187

 

[Taycro]

FWIW, Ford’s 52 for 294 his freshman year was…
Vs Idaho - 6 for 107
Vs everyone else - 46 for 187

Great context.

 

[Schoolie]

Slade's issues were off field IIRC (think some personality conflicts) and never found a home. He, like nearly every other five star we've ever had (with few exceptions) just didn't live up to the hype (most of them aren't 'busts', but just don't perform at their five star ranking):

WR Corey Jones
RB Devyn Ford
OL Floyd Wedderburn
TE RJ Luke
RB Omar Easy
QB Christian Hackenberg
QB Anthony Morelli
DB Justin King
WR/DB Derrick Williams
LB Brandon Smith
DB AJ Wallace
LB Chris Colasanti (highest rated recruit for us in 2007)
LB Brandon Beachum
QB Paul Jones
DE Garrett Sickles
TE Adam Brenneman
WR Juwan Johnson
DE Shane Simmons
LB Lance Dixon

Derrick Williams?