Kevin Suhey 13 |
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Joe Paterno has coached and gotten to know hundreds of young men who have played football for Penn State during his 57 years as a member of the staff. He's already coached numerous sons of Nittany Lions who played for him during his 40 years as head coach. However, the past two seasons brought about something even the legendary coach hadn't seen before -- a fourth-generation Nittany Lion. Redshirt sophomore Kevin Suhey hails from arguably the "First Family" of Penn State football. His great-grandfather, Bob Higgins, was the second All-American in program history, earning the honor in 1915 and again in 1919, and later served as head coach from 1930-48. That gives the Higgins-Suhey family 91 years of involvement with the Penn State program of the 120 seasons it has existed. Kevin's grandfather, Steve Suhey, was a letterman at guard in 1942 and again in 1946-47, earning All-America honors his senior season. He married one of Bob Higgins' daughters, Ginger. Three of their sons, Paul (Kevin's father), Larry and Matt played for Penn State in the 1970s and Kevin enrolled as a full-time student in the University in January 2005. A local product, Suhey is a talented and instinctive athlete who adds critical depth for the quarterback position and will look to challenge for more playing time. Last year, he served as the holder on placements, a role that he and fellow State College product Jason Ganter likely will battle for again this season. Suhey and Ganter have teamed up the past two years as the squad's primary organizers of the Penn State Lift for Life, an event which raises money to benefit the Kidney Cancer Association. The 2006 event raised more than $60,000 and this year's fifth annual event was held in mid-July. Suhey also is one of the squad's premier students, enrolled in mechanical engineering and owning a superlative 3.88 grade-point average through the spring semester. He posted a perfect 4.00 grade-point average during the 2006 fall semester. Suhey earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades last year and is a potential ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America candidate this year. He is one of five returnees that played at State College Area HS.
2006 Sophomore Season
Suhey took over the holder duties on placements early in the season, serving in that crucial position over the last 11 contests. He had one pass attempt, at Minnesota. Suhey compiled a perfect 4.00 grade-point average during the 2006 fall semester to gain Dean's List and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
2005 Freshman Season
Suhey delayed enrolling in the University until January 2005. He took a redshirt season.
High School
Suhey led State College Area HS to the Pennsylvania state semifinals as a senior after claiming the District 6 title. Completing 62 percent of his passes, he threw for more than 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns for Coach Dave Lintal's Little Lions. A very accurate passer, Suhey threw only three interceptions as a senior and had a string of 146 consecutive pass attempts without being picked off. Suhey ended his prep career with 3,442 career passing yards, second in school history to former Nittany Lion Chris Ganter. Suhey owns the school record with 280 career completions. He was an all-conference and honorable-mention all-state selection. Suhey also was a letterman on the wrestling and track and field squads.
Personal
Full name is Kevin Arthur Suhey. The son of Paul and Carolyn Suhey, he has two sisters (Kara and Emily) and one brother (Paul), and is a member of one of the most prominent families in the Penn State football family. His great grandfather, Bob Higgins, was Penn State's second All-American, in 1915, and earned All-America honors again in 1919. Higgins served as head coach of the Nittany Lions from 1930-48. Suhey's grandfather, Steve Suhey, was a letterman at guard in 1942 and again in 1946-47, earning All-America honors his senior season. He married one of Bob Higgins' daughters, Ginger. Three of their sons, Paul (Kevin's father), Larry and Matt played for Penn State in the 1970s. Paul was a linebacker who lettered from 1975-78 and is an orthopedic surgeon in State College. Larry was a fullback who lettered in 1975-76. And Matt also was a letterman at fullback from 1976-79 and a member of the Chicago Bears from 1980-89. Suhey is a mechanical engineering major and is a Dean's List student, owning a 3.88 grade-point average through the spring semester. Born August 25, 1985.
