National Football Foundation

A two-year starter at quarterback under College Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno at Penn State, Wally Richardson led the Nittany Lions to a 20-5 record and victories in the 1996 Outback Bowl and 1997 Fiesta Bowl. In those games, he threw for 312 yards and five touchdowns, including a school bowl record four touchdowns in the Outback Bowl. A co-captain of the 1996 squad, Richardson ranks second in school history in single-game pass completions (33); fifth in single-season pass completions (193); sixth in career pass completions (378); ninth in career passing yards (4,419) and single-season passing touchdowns (19); and 10^th in career passing touchdowns (27). Following his senior season, he received the Ridge Riley Award which honors a senior letterman for sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and friendship. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Richardson compiled a 3.2 GPA in administration of justice.

Richardson was selected in the seventh round (234^th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens and played two seasons with the Ravens and one with the Atlanta Falcons. He also played one season in the Arena Football League for the Los Angeles Avengers, completing 20-of-40 passes for 280 yards and six touchdowns. From 2001-2013, Richardson held various positions helping with academic support of student athletes at Penn State, Georgia and North Carolina. In 2013, he was named the Director of the Football Letterman’s Club at his alma mater.