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Penn State Bringing In Special Alum As Peach Bowl Captain

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2 Jan 1995: Cornerback Herman O”Berry of the Oregon Ducks tries to tackle quarterback Kerry Collins of the Penn State Nittany Lions during a game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Penn State won the game 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport

Penn State will bring back a former football legend for Saturday’s Peach Bowl.

As announced Tuesday, Kerry Collins will serve as honorary captain for the Nittany Lions. Former wide receiver Donte Moncrief fills the role for Ole Miss.

Collins played for Penn State from 1991 to 1994. As a senior, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting when leading the Nittany Lions to their first Big Ten title. 

Penn State went 12-0 and finished No. 2 in the national rankings following a 1994 Rose Bowl win over Oregon. Collins set multiple school records that season when completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,679 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American won the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell Awards. Following that success, the Carolina Panthers started their expansion franchise by drafting Collins with the No. 5 pick in 1995.

Collins threw 208 touchdowns with six different teams over a 17-year NFL career. He led the Giants to the Super Bowl in the 2000 season after amassing 381 yards and five touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game.

Five years ago, Collins was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. At the time, he discussed what he’d seen from his alma mater under head coach James Franklin.

“There’s a long history of what Penn State is and what it’s all about, and it’s important to carry that on,” Collins said, via Fight on State. “It’s important to carry the tradition on, the values, what it stands for. I think Coach Franklin and the squads he’s had recently are doing that. It means a lot to a lot of guys to watch our team and know they’re doing it the right way.”

For the second straight season, Penn State is 10-2 — only losing to Ohio State and Michigan — entering a bowl game. The Nittany Lions will face Lane Kiffin’s 10-2 Rebels this Saturday at noon ET on ESPN.