Five Nittany Lions Land On Sporting News All-Decade TeamsFive Nittany Lions Land On Sporting News All-Decade Teams
Mark Selders

Five Nittany Lions Land On Sporting News All-Decade Teams

Kwalick, Farrell, Conlan, Arrington, Barkley highlighted by Sporting News

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Five Penn State football greats were honored by Sporting News this week, being named to its 2026 College Football All-Decade All-America teams.

 

Tight end Ted Kwalick (1960s), linebacker Shane Conlan (1980s), offensive lineman Sean Farrell (1980s), linebacker LaVar Arrington (1990s) and running back Saquon Barkley (2010s) were all tabbed to the All-Decade teams.

Kwalick_Ted

Ted Kwalick, TE (1966-68)

  • Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in December 1989.
  • Finished fourth in the Heisman voting in 1968, the second-highest finish by a tight end in the award’s history.
  • Named a first-team All-American in 1967 and a consensus first-team All-American in 1968.
  • Became Penn State’s second two-time All-American.
  • The Big Ten’s Tight End of the Year award is named the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year.
  • Tallied 86 catches, 1,343 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.
  • Ranks third all-time at Penn State in receiving yards by a tight end.
  • Had 33 catches for 563 yards and four touchdowns in 1967 and 31 catches for 403 yards and two touchdowns in 1968.
Farrell_

Sean Farrell, OL (1979-81)

  • Was a first-team All-American in 1980 and a consensus first-team All-American in 1981.
  • Tabbed as a Lombardi Award finalist in 1981.
  • Was also an Outland Trophy finalist in 1981.
  • Helped Penn State to 10-win seasons in 1980 and 1981 and a fair of Fiesta Bowl victories.
  • Selected in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Shane Conlan, LB (1983-86)

  • Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
  • Major contributor to Penn State’s 1986 national championship team.
  • Made two interceptions in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, returning one to the five-yard-line to setup Penn State’s winning touchdown. Was named Most Valuable Defensive Player of the game.
  • Served as a co-captain as a senior and led PSU to a 23-1 record and two national championship game appearances over his last two seasons.
  • Was a first-team All-American in 1985 and a consensus first-team All-American in 1986.
  • Tabbed a Butkus Award finalist in 1986 after leading PSU with 79 tackles.
  • Finished career with 274 tackles, ranking 10th all-time at Penn State.
  • Was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1987 after being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
Arrington__LaVar_A98-1_C1

LaVar Arrington, LB (1997-99)

  • Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
  • Finished ninth in the Heisman voting in 1999.
  • Won the Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and Jack Lambert Award in 1999.
  • Was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award in 1999.
  • Named a first-team All-American in 1998 and a unanimous consensus All-American in 1999.
  • Tabbed Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 (first sophomore to earn the award) after posting 72 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble returns (one for a touchdown) and two blocked kicks.
  • His famous “LaVar Leap” against Illinois was the 1998 Compaq Defensive Play of the Year.
  • Led PSU to three bowl games and racked up 173 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and three interceptions in his career.
  • Ranks ninth all-time at PSU in career tackles for loss and 12th in career sacks.
  • Selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft.
Barkley_Saquon (A-17-RU-MS) 9222

Saquon Barkley, RB (2015-17)

  • Finished fourth in the Heisman voting in 2017, the best finish by a Nittany Lion since 2002.
  • Won the Paul Hornung Award in 2017, while being a finalist for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Doak Walker Award and Lombardi Award.
  • Tabbed a second-team All-American in 2016 and a consensus All-American in 2017. Became the program’s 100th first-team All-American.
  • In 2017, was a first-team All-American at running back by the AFCA and Walter Camp and a first-team All-American as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press, FWAA, CBS Sports, ESPN, Phil Steele, Sports Illustrated and The Athletic.
  • Won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for the Big Ten’s top player in 2016 and 2017.
  • Earned the Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year in 2016 and 2017 and was the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in 2017.
  • Finished career as the program’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (43), total touchdowns (53), all-purpose yards (5,538), receiving yards by a running back (1,157), receptions by a running back (102), and finished second in rushing yards (3,843) and scoring (318).
  • Only player in PSU history with 3,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a career (one of five Big Ten players).
  • Selected No. 2 overall by the New York Giants in the 2017 NFL Draft.

For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2026 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.