No Penguin defensive player got as up close and personal with an opposing quarterback in one season as Harry Deligianis did in 1997. Deligianis shattered the school record for sacks that year finishing the national-title winning campaign with 17.
A defensive tackle for the Penguins from 1994-97, Deligianis had a breakthrough senior season finishing with 40 total tackles, almost half of which were sacks.
He was selected as a first-team All-American by The Sports Network and The Associated Press. He earned AFCA, ESPN/SportsTicker and American Football Quarterly All-America honors as well. A first-team All-Gateway selection, he was the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. He is the only Penguin to earn the honor since joining the league in 1997.
During the year, he was a three-time YSU Defensive Player of the Game and was a four-time Defensive Lineman of the Game. A team captain, he was named the Penguins' John Delserone Most Valuable Player.
Starting all 15 games, his 17 sacks went for 103 yards in losses while his 18 tackles for losses went for 111 yards. Deligianis has two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery during the year.
He posted a season-high six tackles against Buffalo and finished with five tackles, including three sacks the come-from-behind victory at top-ranked Villanova
He was also credited with three sacks against Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa.
The Penguins went on to win the National Championship defeating McNeese State in a defensive battle, 10-9, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
He showed his talents in front of professional coaches and scouts playing in the East-West Shrine game in Palo Alto, Calif.
In April 1998, he was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft as the 199th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is the last Penguin to be taken in the NFL Draft.
Although an NFL career did not work out, he did play professional in the Arena Football League.
Deliganis was a key contributor on the line in 1995 and 1996. As a junior, he played in nine games registering 29 tackles, including three for losses. He had two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
As a sophomore he had 13 tackles, including three for losses and a career-best four pass breakup.
At Ashtabula High School, he was a first-team all-state selection and was Defensive Player as the school won their conference championship.
Deligianis, who majored in Business Communications, is the owner of LTL Freight Company.
Harry and his wife Casey have a daughter, Zoey and, are expecting a son, John in October. They reside in Madison, Ohio.
