In 1963 as a junior running back, he contributed to the school's first unbeaten season as part of a team that posted an 8–0 record and outscored their opponents 238 to 12 points.
Abbey accepted a football scholarship from Penn State University, as one of the last recruits of head coach Rip Engle.
In 1967, he was named the starter at fullback, contributing to an 8-2-1 record under Joe Paterno, registering 386 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 148 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns and kicked 23 out 26 extra points, while leading the team in scoring and ranking fifth in the nation.
Abbey was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (179th overall) of the 1970 NFL draft, with the intention of playing him at linebacker.
[4] Because of three previous knee surgeries that he had in college, he couldn't agree to a financial arrangement with the Cowboys.