I know that Aaron Harris will probably be mentioned more than not, but I didn't really think of him just as Curtis Enis's blocking back. We have had so many good FB's at PSU. Who was your favorite, based on whatever criterion you want to use.
Who was your favorite Full Back at Penn State?
- Thread starter Jerademan74
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It's only June 4th. You're likely to run out of ideas for PSU football discussions before the season starts. 
Jon Williams would have made a great tailback if he hadn't been in the same backfield as Curt Warner.
Tom Donchez opened a lot of holes for John Cappelletti.
Tom Donchez opened a lot of holes for John Cappelletti.
1) Franco
2-4) In no particular order, Smith, Manoa, and Gash.
5-7) Milne, Witman, and Aaron Harris
Steve Smith and Sam Gash are probably the 2 best blockers PSU has ever had at the FB position. Steve Smith was a much better runner (I may be misinterpreting your blocking comment). Steve Smith was the second leading rusher in 1985 with a 4.9 avg (avg 5 in '84). Manoa was 3rd with also a 4.9 avg. Smith was actually the emergency RB for games in '85. D.J. Dozier and David Clark were both injury prone. In '86, Smith's carries stayed the same but his avg dipped to 4.2 while Manoa's carries increased and provided bigger plays to improve his avg to 5.6. Blair Thomas also busted onto the scene in '86 as the 3rd leading rusher with an avg of 8.4 or Smith and Manoa probably would have just flip flopped in order of rushing leaders.
Manoa & Smith were an unbelievable combo.
I think Sam Gash made the Pro Bowl while playing for the Bills even though he didn't have a single carry that season.
Aaron Harris and Bob Torrey. Torrey 9-107 in the 1977 Fiesta Bowl. Hell of a basketball player too.
Milne was my idol in high school. Being a fullback and DE. Never knew the backstory of his illness and triumph until i saw a special on TV a couple of years ago. Great stuff.
We have had gray ones. Manoa , Milne, Smith. Gash was great also, Franco stepped it up in the NFL
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PSU Alum: Just out of curiosity, why no mention of Matt Suhey. As fullbacks go, it is hard to find a better blocking back in the NFL than Suhey when he opened up holes for Walter Peyton. I know he had a very good career at Penn State, but how do you think he compared to others you cited?
Bob Nagle was the starting FB in '73. Not sure if Donchez got much playing time as a soph.
I'm going with Booker Moore (RIP) from Flint, MI. He did run for over 2,000 career yards at PSU. Buffalo drafted him late 1st round. Even back then, not many Fullbacks ever got drafted in the 1st round of the NFL draft. Did we have better Fullbacks, certainly. But Booker was my favorite.
Jon Williams was a bad man at FB! He should have been a running back but made a sacrifice to get on the field being behind Curt Warner. When Warner went down we didn't skip a beat when Williams was moved to his natural position as a RB.
Thats a tough one, we've some really great FB's.
Here's my over all list of the really good ones I've seen play at PSU.
Aaron Harris
Sam Gash
Steve Smith
Tim Mano
Jon Whitman
Brian Milne
Brian O'neal
Matt Suhey
Bob Torrey
Out of that list I'm going to say Steve Smith or Sam Gash. Sorry I can't decide between the 2.
Many great ones in Franco, Gash, Witman, Milne, Harris, Williams, etc., but my favorite would have to be the two headed monster that was Smith/Manoa. They were both more than just blocking backs and both had nice NFL careers.
Some others not mentioned so far are Sean McHugh, Paul Jefferson, Brandon Snow and Michael Zordich (Jr).
Joe Suhey when he ran the fullback dive on the first play of the 2011 Nebraska game.
I always like Mike Cerimele from the 90's. Probably not the best, but he was pretty good all-around.
I run into Brian Milne sometimes. He is a local police officer in the metro Cincinnati area.
Good answer! The question was "favorite" not "best!" I certainly get that there were better FBs than Omar Easy.
Sean McHugh was actually a TE who was converted over to FB. He had to be the tallest FB in college football history at 6'6". Great debates were had over whether his position conversion was a proper one at the time.Sean McHugh! Kid was a monster.
