Paul Posluszny was born in Butler, Pennsylvania. He comes from a big family and is one of five children. His father, Stan, played baseball at the University of West Virginia. Paul attended Hopewell High School in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania where he was a three-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. On the football team, Posluszny played both running back and linebacker. As a senior and team captain he totaled 88 tackles and 6 sacks on defense while rushing for 1,575 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense, leading his team to a 14-1 record. He was named all-state and conference MVP for the second consecutive season. He was also named Pennsylvania player of the year and was selected to participate in the Big 33 game following his senior season. Paul was not only an outstanding athlete, but also a great student as well, maintaining a 3.8 grade point average in high school. He accepted a scholarship to Penn State where he was able to become an immediate contributor as a true freshman, finishing with 36 tackles and an interception on his way to numerous freshman all-American honors. Posluszny earned a starting job on the outside as a sophomore, totaling 104 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception in 11 games. He was named second team all-Big Ten and also received academic all-Big Ten honors. As a junior, Posluszny established himself as one of the best defensive players in the nation. He was named team captain, becoming the first Penn State junior to receive the honor in 37 years. He finished the season with 116 tackles, and 3 sacks, leading the team to an 11-1 record and a Big Ten championship. He was named first team all-Big Ten and all-American for his play as a junior. He also received the Bednarik award for being the nation’s top defensive player and the Butkus award for the nation’s top linebacker. Posluszny was on the all-Big Ten and all-American academic teams for maintaining a 3.66 grade point average during the season. He appeared to be a player that could’ve been a high first round draft pick had he decided to leave school early, however a knee injury in the Orange Bowl forced him to rehab and return for his senior season. He missed spring practices but was able to add 10 pounds of muscle to his frame during rehab. Paul Posluszny returned for his senior season once again as team captain and one of the top defensive players in the nation.

Paul Posluszny has a great deal of experience against top competition, having started the past three seasons for Penn State in the Big Ten. Posluszny is an intense, instinctive linebacker with a non-stop motor. He is an intelligent player who is able to quickly read and react to what opposing offenses are doing. He has the ability to make plays sideline to sideline and he always seems to be around the football. He does a good job of using his hands to get off blocks and he takes good angles to the ballcarrier. He is a good open field tackler who displays excellent tackling technique. Posluszny has all the intangibles you could want in a football player. He is a leader both on and off the field and was a great student with outstanding character. Posluszny lacks great speed and change of direction ability. The knee injury he sustained in the 2006 Orange Bowl in which he had partial tears to both his MCL and his PCL could be a cause for concern. He seems to have returned his knee to 100% but you can count on teams checking it out thoroughly at the combine. Paul Posluszny could stay on the outside, but I think he would be better suited to play in the middle at the next level. Either way, he should be one of the top defensive players selected and a mid-first round pick in the 2007 NFL draft.