(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Hopewell graduate Paul Posluszny was named as a new member of the College Football Hall of Fame last night. He was selected as one of nineteen players and three coaches announced as members who will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year.

Following a WPIAL Championship in 2002 with the Vikings, “Puz” went on to play at Penn State University at linebacker for four seasons. He was a two-time winner of the Chuck Bednarik award for best defensive player in college football, adding the Dick Butkus award for top linebacker in 2005.

Posluszny was then drafted 34th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 NFL Draft for what would become an 11-year career with Buffalo and Jacksonville. He would earn a Pro Bowl appearance with the Jaguars in 2014, and helped Jacksonville to the AFC Championship in what would be his final season. He retired in 2018.

Former Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will also be inducted this year. The Minnesota native played two seasons for the Panthers, catching for 2,677 yards in just 26 games. He finished as runner-up to Oklahoma QB Jason White in voting for the 2003 Heisman Trophy. He would then be selected 3rd overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he would spend the entirety of his 17-year professional football career.