Oct. 18, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 18, 2013 - Several Penn State players have earned honors as college football readies for the second half of the 2013 campaign.
Junior wide receiver Allen Robinson (Southfield, Mich.) was selected a second-team Mid-season All-American by CBSsports.com and Phil Steele's College Football.
Robinson and senior defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (Johnson City, N.Y.) earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades from Phil Steele's College Football at the halfway point of the season.
True freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg (Palmyra, Va.) was named ESPN.com's No. 2 Freshman nationally at the season's mid-point. He also selected ESPN.com's Big Ten Newcomer of the Year and BTN.com's Freshman of the Year at mid-season.
Guard John Urschel (Williamsville, N.Y) was a Phil Steele's second-team all-conference Mid-season selection. Hackenberg, linebacker Glenn Carson (Manahawkin, N.J.), cornerback Jordan Lucas (New Rochelle, N.Y.), defensive end C.J. Olanyian (Warren, Mich.), tackle Donovan Smith (Owings Mills, Md.) and safety Malcolm Willis (Marbury, Md.) earned third team All-Big Ten recognition.
Also, for the second consecutive year, sophomore Kyle Carter (Bear, Del.) was named to the John Mackey Award Mid-season Watch List. The Mackey Award is presented to the nation's top tight end.
Robinson leads the Big Ten in receptions (43, 7.2) and receiving yardage (705, 117.5 ypg) and is tied for second with five touchdown catches. The Biletnikoff Award candidate and 2012 Big Ten Receiver of the Year is averaging 16.4 yards per catch and has four 100-yard receiving games this season. Robinson made 12 catches for 173 yards and two scores at Indiana on Oct. 5.
Jones leads the Big Ten with 8.5 tackles for loss (minus-31 yards). He is second on the team with 39 tackles (24 solo), has 2.0 sacks (minus-16) and recovered a fumble in the win over Michigan. Jones has tied career-high with nine tackles three times this season, including in the overtime win over the Wolverines.
Hackenberg leads the Big Ten in passing (278.7 ypg) & completions (132) and is tied for third with 11 touchdown passes. For the season, he is 132 of 226 for 1,672 yards, with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, Hackenberg's trio of 300-yard passing games are tied with Daryll Clark for third-most in school history.
Coach Bill O'Brien's Nittany Lions (4-2) are idle this week after posting a 43-40, four overtime win over previously unbeaten Michigan last Saturday. The Nittany Lions visit No. 4/3 Ohio State on Oct. 26 in an ABC national contest. The game also will air on the Penn State Sports Network (6:30 p.m. airtime) and www.GoPSUsports.com.
Tickets are available for the Nittany Lions' final three home games against Illinois (Nov. 2, THON Day), Purdue (Nov. 16, Seats For Soldiers) and Nebraska (Nov. 23, Senior Day). For information on single game tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pre-paid single game parking passes for the general parking lots ($10) are also available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets.
Penn State Athletics is on Twitter (http://www.gopsusports.com/ot/twitter.html) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions).