Jan. 26, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - A quintet of Nittany Lions have accepted invitations to play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game on Saturday, January 31 at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.
Tackle Gerald Cadogan (Portsmouth, Ohio), wide receiver Jordan Norwood (State College), guard Rich Ohrnberger (East Meadow, N.Y.), cornerback Lydell Sargeant (Lompoc, Calif.) and safety Anthony Scirrotto (West Deptford, N.J.) are scheduled to play for The Nation team, which will be led by head coach Howard Schnellenberger. Former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnspargar is among the assistant coaches for The Nation team.
The third Texas vs. The Nation game will kick at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday and air on CBS College Sports (Ch. 274 on Comcast in Center Region).
Rich Ohrnberger |
This past Saturday night, Penn State's Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) delivered a standout performance in the 60th Annual Under Armour Senior Bowl, gaining a game-high 124 all-purpose yards. A second team All-America, he was highly productive for the North squad as a receiver, runner and kick returner. He gained 89 yards on three kickoff returns, including a 44-yarder that gave the North the ball on its own 49 and set-up the team's first touchdown drive in the second quarter. Williams also made two catches for 19 yards, returned on punt 11 yards and ran the ball once for five yards.
A total of eight seniors from Penn State's 2008 Big Ten Championship squad have been invited to play in 2009 all-star games. Wide receiver Deon Butler (Woodbridge, Va.) played in the East-West Shrine Classic on Jan. 17. All-America center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) was invited to play in the East-West game, but declined in order to receive the Rimington Trophy as the nation's outstanding center.
Cadogan was a 2008 first team All-Big Ten selection, starting every game over the past two seasons and 30 in his career. He teamed with Ohrnberger and the offensive line to pave the way for Evan Royster (1,236 yards) to become Penn State's fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rusher. Cadogan was selected a first team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American® for the second consecutive year, becoming just the sixth Nittany Lion to be honored twice.
Lydell Sargeant |
Norwood concluded his standout career by ranking in the top 5 in Penn State career receptions and receiving yardage. He is No. 4 with 159 receptions, No. 3 with 2,015 career yards and had 12 touchdown catches. This past season, he made 41 catches for 637 yards (15.5) and six touchdowns, missing two games with an injury. Norwood made a career-high tying eight catches for a career-best 116 yards and touchdown in Penn State's 45-14 win over Oregon State last fall.
Ohrnberger earned third team Associated Press All-America and first team All-Big Ten accolades this past season. A starter in the last 35 games of his career, Ohrnberger teamed with Cadogan and the offensive line to help Penn State lead the Big Ten and rank in the Top 15 nationally in scoring (38.9 ppg, 1st/11th) and total offense (448.9 ypg, 1st/14th) and rank second in the conference in rushing (205.8 ypg, 2nd/17th).
A two-year starter, Sargeant led the Nittany Lions with four interceptions this past season, tied for No. 5 in the Big Ten. He also was fifth in the conference with 13 passes defrended. He made 33 tackles (23 solo) in 2008 and also led the team with nine pass break-ups. A second team All-Big Ten choice, Sargeant helped the Nittany Lions rank in the Top 20 nationally in the four primary defensive categories, including No. 8 in scoring defense at 14.4 ppg.
A three-year starter, Scirrotto earned first team All-Big Ten honors for the second time during his senior season. The quarterback in the secondary, he grabbed 12 career interceptions to finish in a tie for No. 5 on the school interceptions list. This past season he was fourth on the team with 61 tackles (36 solo), with two interceptions, five pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. Scirrotto was selected the 2008 Division I Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of South Jersey.
Cadogan, Norwood and Ohrnberger have earned their degrees, while fourth-year seniors Sargeant and Scirrotto are on schedule to graduate in 2009.
Anthony Scirrotto |
The Nittany Lions (11-2) won their second Big Ten title and Bowl Championship berth in the past four years during the 2008 season. Penn State was No. 8 in the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, earning its 22nd final Top 10 ranking under Joe Paterno. The Lions won at least 11 games for the 14th time under the Hall of Fame coach.
Penn State has earned one of the nation's Top 10 records since the start of the 2005 season, posting a 40-11 (78.4) mark, good for No. 9 nationally. The Nittany Lions have won 42 of their last 53 games overall, dating to the final two games of the 2004 season.