April 23, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 23, 2008 - A pair of Penn State offensive line stalwarts have been named to the Watch List for the 2008 Outland Trophy. The honor is presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to the nation's top interior lineman.
Nittany Lion tackle Gerald Cadogan and center A.Q. Shipley are among the candidates for the prestigious honor, which is presented to a tackle, guard or center. Penn State All-America defensive tackle Mike Reid, won the Outland Trophy in 1968.
The Outland Trophy has been awarded since 1946. With input from the entire FWAA membership, the winner is selected by the FWAA's All-America Committee, which selects the association's 25-man All-America team and picks the three Outland Trophy finalists and the winner.
Cadogan and Shipley are two-year starters who have been instrumental in the development and success of the offensive line, a unit that returns six players with starting experience for the upcoming season. Last year, they Penn State average 400.1 yards per game -- 193.8 rushing and 206.3 passing -- and 5.5 yards per play. The Nittany Lions ran for 200 yards or more six times, with a season-high 270 yards in the win over Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl, averaging 6.6 yards per rush against the Aggies. During the 2007 season, the O-Line paved the way for Penn State to gain 2,519 rushing yards, with 27 touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt, up 0.6 ypa from 2006.
Cadogan started all 13 games at left tackle last season, earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades from the coaches and media. He also earned first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, becoming Penn State's 36th such honoree under Joe Paterno. A two-time Academic All-District selection, Cadogan was on the field for 998 snaps, tied for second-highest on the team and among offensive players. A strong and athletic young man with great physical attributes, Cadogan is one of the squad's most personable and service-oriented members, in addition to his academic achievements. The Portsmouth, Ohio product is an active member of Penn State's Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB), participating in numerous community service activities. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Cadogan has a double-major of rehabilitation services and psychology and is on schedule to graduate later this year. He owned a 3.67 grade point average entering the spring semester, earning a 4.00 last fall.
A starter in all 26 games the past two seasons, Shipley anchors the offensive line. A hard-working leader for the offense, Shipley has used his skills, tenacity and competitive nature to become one the top offensive linemen in the Big Ten. He was recognized by the conference coaches with his selection as the 2007 first-team All-Big Ten center and will be a candidate for the Rimington Award for the second consecutive year. The Coraopolis, Pa. native also is on the Watch List for the 2008 Rotary Lombardi Award. The former Moon Area High School standout was selected to the 2007 ESPN.com All-Bowl Team after the Nittany Lions ran for 270 yards in the 24-17 win over Texas A&M. He also made his first career reception against the Aggies, rumbling for four yards after snaring a deflected pass. He saw action on 997 snaps last season, fourth-highest on the team. A former defensive tackle, Shipley has one of the squad's most engaging personalities and is on schedule to graduate later this year.
The 2008 Outland Trophy announcement will take place on Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla., on the ESPNU Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Three finalists will appear on the show. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be on Jan. 15, 2009 in Omaha, Neb. Additional Outland Trophy candidates may be added during the course of the season.
The Outland Trophy is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century.
In his 43rd season as head coach, Joe Paterno's squad returns 16 starters (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists) from last year's 9-4 squad that defeated Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches poll, earning their 33rd Top 25 finish under Paterno. Penn State had won 31 of its last 40 games, tied for eighth-best in the nation over that span.