Penn State inside linebacker, senior Dan Connor, hasn't always been the poster boy for Nittany Lions' success.

Sure, the 6-foot-3, 233 pound All-America candidate will grace the cover of just about every Penn State football publication this fall - including Blue White Illustrated's own. His easy-going demeanor and jovial nature can make it easy to forget that only two years ago at this time, he was in head coach Joe Paterno's doghouse... buried under six feet of dirt - figuratively speaking.

Connor's role in a prank-phone calling scheme late at night landed him on the sidelines, in street clothes, for Penn State's first three games of the 2005 season. Only midway through the fourth game of the season against Northwestern did Connor make his first appearance of the year for the Nittany Lions.

Looking back now, those three missed games could cost Connor a chance to own Penn State's career tackles record - currently owned by Paul Posluszny of the Buffalo Bills. Would the number needed be far less than 98 tackles had Connor played in those games?

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