Nov. 5, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Junior linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) delivered another outstanding performance in Penn State's 26-19 win over Purdue and for his efforts has been selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
He shares this week's honor with Ohio State's James Laurinaitis.
Lee had 12 tackles vs. Boilermakers, giving him 10 or more tackles in seven of his last eight games. Lee also forced two fumbles, including one inside the PSU 1-yard line that he recovered, with Purdue leading 10-3 late in the first quarter, to change the momentum of the game. Lee has either led or tied for the lead in tackles in seven games this season and has nine career double figure tackle games.
Following the huge play at the goal line, the Nittany Lions scored 10 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 13-10 halftime lead.
For the season, Lee is second on the team and third in the Big Ten with 104 tackles (45 solo), an average of 10.4 per game. The former Upper St. Clair High School all-stater has 8.0 tackles for minus-29 yards, with 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five pass break-ups.
An All-America candidate, Lee earned his first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor after Penn State's 59-0 win over Florida International. He led the Nittany Lions with seven solo tackles, including two tackles for losses, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass break-up against FIU.
Lee is a primary reason why Penn State is among the Top 12 nationally in four primary defensive categories: sacks (1st, 40), rushing (9th, 90.6 ypg); scoring (11th, 17.6 ppg) and total (12th, 302.1 ypg). The Nittany Lions have limited seven opponents to 87 rushing yards or less and held five opponents to 14 points or less this season.
Earlier this season, Lee recorded 10 or more tackles in five consecutive games, with the string ending at Indiana on Oct. 20. Lee became the first Nittany Lion with five straight double figure tackle games since All-America linebacker Paul Posluszny did so in the last four games of 2004 and the first game of 2005.
Lee made a career-high 17 tackles at Illinois on Sept. 29 and had 13 stops against Ohio State on Oct. 27 to begin a new double figure tackle string.
A Nittany Lion has been selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week four times this season. In addition to Lee's two honors, senior linebacker Dan Connor (Wallingford) was selected after Penn State's 31-10 win over Notre Dame and sophomore defensive end Maurice Evans (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was selected after the Lions' win at Indiana.
Coach Joe Paterno's squad brings a 7-3 overall record into Saturday's game at Temple. Kick time is 12:00 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field, with a crowd near 70,000 expected. The game will air on ESPNU, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com, the official website of Penn State Athletics.