Penn State Football: Is Silas Redd Worthy of School's All-Time Top 25 Status?

Let's just get this out of the way. No, Silas Redd isn't in the same conversation as the Top 25 players in Penn State history, but he's a very talented player.

In two seasons, he's rushed for nearly 1,700 yards. To put that number in perspective, Matt Suhey is 10th with 2,818.

A 1,000-yard season would put Redd right in the thick of Penn State's all-time leading rushers, but that doesn't even take into account other positions. The Nittany Lions have had a slew of prolific running backs in their program's history, but they've also had a ton of defensive stars.

If you were to make out a list of the 25 best players to ever play for Penn State, I'd bet at least half of them would be defensive players. Two quarterbacks, Kerry Collins and Todd Blackledge, would be in the conversation as well. That leaves room for six or seven running backs, depending on your specific list.

Redd needs a spectacular season in 2012 if he wants to come close to the five best running backs in Penn State history. If he really wants, he could return to Penn State for his senior year in 2013 and make his legacy very interesting. 

I suspect either way that Redd will be forgotten. In terms of talent, he could be a Top 25 player. His resume may eventually measure up as well, but look at Penn State's program right now. Redd's outstanding ability will be lost in the turmoil surrounding his team. 

Right now, football isn't on the mind of very many people in Happy Valley, which is strange. Redd's legacy will be impacted by that. 

If he plays four seasons at Penn State, Redd has an opportunity to enter the same conversation as the all-time greats, but for right now he's on the outside looking in.