Dec. 16, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin (Ellicott City, Md.), center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis, Pa.), guard Rich Ohrnberger (East Meadow, N.Y.), and wide receiver/kick returner Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) have been honored as All-Americans by the Associated Press (AP).
Maybin was named to the AP first team, Shipley to the second team, and Ohrnberger and Williams were recognized as third team All-Americans.
Maybin and Shipley were also named second team All-Americans today by SI.com.
The AP and SI.com All-America honors are the latest national acclaim afforded to Maybin and Shipley, who were also selected to the 65th Football Writers Association of America All-America and 119th Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America teams during the past week. Williams also was honored as a second team All-American by Walter Camp. The All-America honor from AP is the first for Ohrnberger.
Rich Ohrnberger |
Shipley and Maybin are Penn State's 92nd and 93rd first team All-Americans all-time; the 75th and 76th under Joe Paterno. Penn State has had at least one All-American in 38 of his 43 years as head coach.
A first team All-Big Ten honoree in 2008, Maybin emerged as one of the college football's premier pass rushers and playmakers, ranking fourth in the nation with 12 sacks and sixth with 19 tackles for loss. A tenacious and athletic defender, Maybin was a finalist for the Bednarik Award and the Ted Hendricks Defensve End Award.
The former Mount Hebron High School standout has recorded at least one tackle for loss in all 12 games. Maybin has also forced a team-high three fumbles, including two that resulted in Penn State touchdowns, and recorded two pass break-ups. He has helped Penn State lead the Big Ten in all four primary defensive categories and earn Top 10 national rankings in rushing, pass efficiency, scoring and total defense.
Shipley was announced as Penn State's first recipient of the Rimington Trophy last Thursday at the ESPNU/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 2008 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, the tough and physical Shipley has been instrumental in anchoring Penn State's best offensive line in more than a decade. A co-captain, he has started all 38 games at center the past three years.
Renown and prized by his teammates as much for his sense of humor as he is for his hard-nosed and relentless play, Ohrnberger was a first team All-Big Ten selection in 2008. A rock in the middle for Penn State over the last three seasons, the hard-working Ohrnberger has started 34 consecutive games at the guard position.
Shipley and Ohrnberger front one of the nation's most potent offenses, as Penn State ranks 11th nationally in scoring offense (40.2 ppg) and No. 15 in the nation in rushing (211.6 ypg) and total offense (452.2 ypg). The Lions lead the Big Ten in total and scoring offense and are second in rushing.
Battling side-by-side in the trenches, the duo has played a major role in helping Penn State have a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past four seasons (three different players). Behind Shipley and Ohrnberger, the Lions lead the Big Ten and are tied for No. 9 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed this season with 12.
Williams, who earned AP All-America honors as an all-purpose player, further solidified his status as one of the nation's most explosive and dynamic weapons in 2008. The first team All-Big Ten receiver has caught 40 passes for 451 yards and three touchdowns to move into third place on Penn State's career receptions list (157) and 10th in career receiving yards (1,709). A co-captain, the versatile Williams also has rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Derrick Williams |
Williams has made an enormous impact on special teams, returning two kickoffs and one punt for a touchdown, giving him five in total for his career, a Paterno-era record. He ranks No. 5 in Penn State career all-purpose yardage with 4,076 yards. Williams led Penn State to victory versus Illinois, becoming the first player under Paterno to score a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and a kick return touchdown in the same game while amassing a career-high 241 all-purpose yards.
Williams' big-play ability has helped Penn State to the No. 1-ranking in scoring offense in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. The Nittany Lions have scored 34 or more points in nine of 11 games this season.
Paterno's Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions (11-1) are preparing for their New Year's Day clash with No. 5/4 USC (11-1), the Pac-10 champions, in the 95th Rose Bowl presented by Citi in Pasadena, Calif. The ninth meeting between the traditional powers will kick off at 2:10 p.m. PT/5:10 p.m. ET and air on ABC, ESPN Radio and the Penn State Sports Network.
No. 6 Penn State will be playing in its 35th bowl game under Paterno (23rd New Year's bowl), who is the all-time leader in bowl appearances and wins (23-10-1 record).