Dec. 12, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - A pair of Penn State starters and former New Jersey prep standouts will be honored this week by football clubs located in the Garden State.
Junior outside linebacker Gerald Hodges (Paulsboro, N.J.) has been selected the New Jersey Division I College Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey. A first-team All-Big Ten honoree, Hodges will be honored Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the club's annual awards banquet in Deptford, N.J.
Senior guard Johnnie Troutman (Brown Mills, N.J.) has been tabbed the New Jersey Division I College Player of the Year by the Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club. A three-year starter for the Nittany Lions, Troutman will be honored Monday night at the club's annual awards banquet in Cherry Hill, N.J.
In his first year as a starter, Hodges ranks in the top 15 in the Big Ten in tackles (97 tkls, 8th), sacks (4.5, 12th) and tackles for loss (10.0, 14th). The former Paulsboro High School standout was selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks in late October, which included a career-high 19-tackle effort in a win over Illinois. Hodges also has forced two fumbles, broken-up three passes and returned an interception 63 yards to set-up a touchdown in a win at Northwestern.
Troutman has started every game this season and has 31 career starts. He has been instrumental in Penn State leading the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed this season (12 sacks in 12 games). The former Pemberton Township High School standout helped the Nittany Lions rush for 239 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, in the Nov. 20 win at Ohio State, Penn State's second win in Columbus in its last three games.
Troutman, who graduated last May, was co-recipient of Penn State's 2011 Richard Maginnis Memorial Award, presented to the team's outstanding offensive lineman.
No. 22 Penn State and Wisconsin tied for the Big Ten Leaders Division title with 6-2 records. The Nittany Lions (9-3) will play No. 19 Houston (12-1) in the TicketCity Bowl in Dallas on Jan. 2 in the first bowl game of 2012.
Playing in a New Year's bowl for the sixth time in the last seven years, tickets for Penn State's clash with Houston are on sale at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.