Bobby Engram Named Among Top Wide Receivers of Past 50 Years

Penn State legend Bobby Engram has been listed as one of the best wide receivers to play college football during the past 50 years, according to a new list by ESPN. This comes as little surprise for those of us who were able to watch Engram during his time in Happy Valley.

Engram’s accolades during his Penn State career put him firmly in the conversation as the top wide receiver in program history — with an easy argument to be made that he tops the list. During his three seasons on the active roster, Engram was named an All-American each year, as well as a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the nation during Penn State’s undefeated 1994 campaign, and is the only Nittany Lion to be bestowed the honor. He was also named the MVP of the 1994 Citrus Bowl, when he helped lead Penn State to a 31-13 spanking of Tennessee with seven receptions for 107 yards and a score.

Engram became the first Nittany Lion to record a 1,000 receiving yard season, and repeated the mark again in 1995. Despite the likes of Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Derrick Williams and several other standout receivers who came afterwards, Engram’s name remains at the top of the school record books in several instances. He still holds the school records for career receiving yards with 3,026, career receiving touchdowns with 31, single-season touchdown receptions with 13 in 1993, and also ranks second in that category with 11 touchdown catches in 1995. He also holds the single-game receiving touchdowns record as the only Nittany Lion to record four receiving scores in a game, which occurred against Minnesota in 1993 - which happened to be Penn State’s first conference victory as a member of the Big Ten.

After being selected in the second round by the Bears, Engram went on to have a successful 14-year career in the NFL. He had his best season late in his career, catching 94 passes for 1,147 yards and six scores for the Seahawks. Engram stuck with the game by joining the coaching ranks as an offensive assistant for the 49ers in 2011, and is now the tight ends coach for the Ravens, which he has been part of the staff since 1994.