Penn State has always seemed a throwback–even as the world of college football changed around him, Paterno stayed true to his core values. That might be why Paterno’s had plenty of standout running backs, but not too many star wideouts.  But today’s player spurred a change in Penn State’s offensive philosophy.

The third Penn Stater in the 44 for 44 is Kenny Jackson.

Kenny Jackson was always an elite athlete.  Even when he was in high school, back in New Jersey, Jackson not only lettered in football, but also baseball, basketball, and track.  Overall, his tremendous accomplishments led South River High School to retire his jersey number, 21.

It was football, though, where Jackson knew he would make his mark–holding scholarship offers from just about every school on the east coast and many more, Kenny could pick his school at will.  Choosing Penn State, Jackson became a catalyst for change in a program that seemingly needed to catch up with the times.

Arriving on campus in 1980, Jackson was a starter from day one.  Not just a starter, Jackson was the team’s #1 wideout that year–his 21 catches, 386 yards, and 5 touchdowns paced the Lions in all three categories, and he was also the chief punt returner.  Yes, it was a different time back then, when a 10-2 team, that finished the year ranked 10th, could succeed despite a quarterback who completed just 47% of his passes, with 7 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.  Penn State rushed the ball twice as many times as they threw it, but even so, it was clear that Jackson would become a star.

As the schedule turned to 1981, it was more of the same for Penn State.  Though Todd Blackledge approached mediocrity, this was still a Nittany Lion team that made their living on the ground.  Kenny Jackson, too, saw his role change–he became more of a deep threat than possession receiver.  Though Jackson’s catch total diminished, from 21 catches to just 19, he eclipsed his yardage and touchdown total of the previous year, finishing with 440 and 6, respectively, as both, once again, led the team, to go along with a 23.2 yard per catch average.

His shining moment of that season, another 10-2 season for Penn State, was in what was undoubtedly the team’s best performance.  The Pittsburgh rivalry had more on the line than usual, as the #11 Nittany Lions visited a then-#1 Pitt team, led by Dan Marino, in a game that had title implications written all over it.  Though Penn State struggled mightily in the early going, Kenny Jackson soon took over.  The sophomore broke out in a big way, leading Penn State to a blowout win over the bitter rivals, setting the Penn State single-game record for receiving yards (with 158, on just 5 catches) in the process.  SI has the recap:

Then came the most telling play of the afternoon. With 3:05 left in the half and Penn State still smarting from the embarrassment of its first-quarter ineptitude and facing a second and one on its own 39, Paterno sent Flanker Kenny Jackson in with the call for the bomb. “All it is is Kenny runs as fast as he can and I throw as far as I can,” said Blackledge. A little pump fake cleared out the defensive clutter, and Jackson grabbed the ball and scooted to the Pitt 8. Then Blackledge ran a perfectly executed quarterback draw for the score, and it was 14-14 at halftime.

Shortly after play resumed Pitt fumbled and Blackledge threw a 42-yard pass to Kenny Jackson, who did a startling 320-degree spin at the 10 to elude Safety Tom Flynn and race in for a touchdown. Penn State, 21-14, Less than three minutes later Blackledge again hit Jackson, this time for 45 yards and another TD. Penn State, 28-14, and only six minutes gone in the second half. Asked later if he had ever been so wide-open for a reception as he was for the 45-yarder, Jackson said, “Sure, in practice.” The nearest Pitt defensive back was a $3 cab ride away.

Coming off consecutive 10-win seasons, expectations were high for Penn State in 1982.  Jackson had proven himself to be one of the best receivers in the country and the running game was equally dominant. But even after his first two seasons, few could expect what Jackson had in store as a junior.  Penn State faced a truly championship-quality schedule in 1982, with contests not just against regional powers like Maryland, West Virginia, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh, but matchups with Nebraska, Alabama, and Notre Dame.  And through it all, the Lions excelled, dropping just the game in Tuscaloosa.  And perhaps no Lion stood out as much as the junior Kenny Jackson.  Reeling in 41 catches–the most of any Penn State receiver since 1965, 697 yards, the most of any Lion in history, and hauling in 7 touchdown passes, again, setting a new Penn State record, Jackson became Blackledge’s favorite target as the quarterback himself finally blossomed, and as both were named All-Americans.  Jackson became the first Penn State wideout so honored.

And though Jackson would be shut down by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Curt Warner more than picked up the slack. For the first time in its history, Penn State had finally gained respect, as the consensus national champions.

Though the 1983 season was a step down for all parties, Jackson once again excelled.  Though Penn State was able to get some revenge against Alabama, the schedule was just too much.  Falling 44-6 in the season opener against #2 Nebraska, 14-3 against Cincinnati, and 42-34 to 14th ranked Iowa, Penn State opened the season 0-3.  Jackson was the only carry-over from that national championship offense, and Doug Strang and D.J. Dozier had trouble replacing their predecessors.  Penn State was able to rebound from their early-season struggles, though, finishing 8-1-1, with the tie coming in Pittsburgh, and with a win over Washington in the Aloha Bowl.

For the second straight year, Jackson was named an All-American, even though his numbers slipped a bit.  Though he missed time battling various injuries, Jackson brought in 28 passes for 483 yards, and repeated his total of 7 touchdowns from the year before.  When it was all said and done, Jackson held virtually every record in the books for Penn State pass catchers–among them the most yards, the most touchdowns, the most 100-yard games, and the second most receptions in the Nittany Lion annals.

A first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1984, Jackson hung around the NFL for 8 years, though he never lived up to his college success.  After retiring from the pro game, Jackson returned to Happy Valley, as Penn State’s wide receivers coach.  It was under his tutelage that players like Bobby Engram, Joe Jurevicious, and Freddie Scott excelled, and so, after 7 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers came calling on him to take the same position. Now, he’s a sideline reporter for the Big Ten Network.

Up next in the 44 for 44: A.Q. Shipley