Tim Buckley made a good impression during his first year in the Nittany Lion program. As spring practice unfolded, he emerged as a top reserve to junior Malcolm Willis at one of the safety positions. With the departure of all four secondary starters, the talented and athletic Buckley should be a strong candidate to gain a spot in the rotation and could see time on special teams. In the 2012 Blue-White game, Buckley had a notable effort, recording four solo tackles, including a tackle for loss. Buckley joins center Ty Howle as returning Nittany Lions from North Carolina.
2011 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Buckley played for Coach Henry Travathan at Cardinal Gibbons High School. He was named the Carolina 3-A Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year in 2010 and played running back, linebacker and safety during his high school career. Buckley rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and scored 36 touchdowns in his senior year. He helped lead the Crusaders to an 11-3 record as a senior and a 12-2 mark as a junior.
Personal
Full name is Timothy John Buckley Jr. He is the son of Tim and Fran Buckley. He has two sisters, Anne and Christina, and a brother, Kevin. His father is a Penn State graduate and an Alumni Fellow. Buckley also was captain of the basketball and track and field teams in high school. He enjoys snowboarding and is interested in a career in business. Born January 2, 1992 in Seattle, Wash.