Dec. 20, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- December 20, 2013 - Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson (Southfield, Mich.) has earned his third first-team All-America selection and senior guard John Urschel (Williamsville, N.Y.) has gained his second All-America nod.
The 2012 and 2013 Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year, Robinson was selected a Phil Steele's College Football first-team All-American, gaining his seventh All-America recognition this year. The standout junior previously was selected a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com and Sporting News, a second-team honoree by the FWAA, SI.com and Athlon Sports and a third-team honoree by the Associated Press.
A two-time first-team All-Big Ten guard, Urschel was named a Phil Steele's College Football fourth-team All-American. The William V. Campbell Trophy recipient previously was selected an Associated Press third-team All-American. A starter in every game the past two seasons, Urschel also is a two-time first-team Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Phil Steele's College Football also announced its All-Big Ten team, with seven members of Coach Bill O'Brien's squad being selected. Robinson was named to the first-team and Urschel and senior defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (Johnson City, N.Y.) were selected second-team. Penn State's third-team All-Big Ten honorees were senior linebacker Glenn Carson (Manahawkin, N.J.), sophomore cornerback Jordan Lucas (New Rochelle, N.Y.), junior defensive end C.J. Olaniyan (Warren, Mich.) and sophomore tackle Donovan Smith (Owings Mills, Md.).
Robinson is Penn State's 98th first-team All-America selection all-time. He is the 84th Penn State football student-athlete to earn first team All-America recognition, dating to W.T. (Mother) Dunn's selection to the Walter Camp All-America squad in 1906.
Penn State has had at least one first-team All-American in every season since 2005 (12 overall), with 18 first or second-team All-Americans over the past nine seasons. Robinson is the Nittany Lions' 24th first team All-American since starting Big Ten Conference competition in 1993 (28 total selections).
Robinson is the first player since at least 1985 to lead the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yardage in consecutive seasons. Robinson's combined 174 receptions and 2,445 receiving yards the past two years both rank No. 3 in Big Ten history for consecutive seasons.
A semifinalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, Robinson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media the past two seasons. In Penn State's eight Big Ten games this year, Robinson made 71 catches (8.9 avg.) for 984 yards (123.0 ypg), improving on his overall season averages.
The former Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's prep standout led the Big Ten with Penn State season records in receptions (97) and receiving yardage (1,432) for the second consecutive year. Robinson ranks No. 3 nationally in receiving yardage (119.3 ypg) and No. 8 in receptions (8.1 avg.). He had six touchdown catches this season (17 career) and a long catch of 65 yards, which resulted in a touchdown at Ohio State.
Robinson ranks second in school career receptions (177) and third in Penn State career receiving yardage (2,474 yds), with numbers earned almost entirely the past two seasons (3 catches for 29 yards in 2011). His eight 100-yard receiving games this year were a Penn State season record and he made 13 catches of 35 or more yards this season, including four touchdowns of 45 yards or longer.
Penn State has won 15 of its last 22 games under second-year coach O'Brien. The Nittany Lions return 16 starters for the 2014 season (8 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist), which begins August 30 vs. No. 15 UCF in the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Season ticket renewal is underway for the 2014 campaign, which features games in Beaver Stadium against Big Ten foes Michigan State (Nov. 29), Ohio State (Oct. 25), Northwestern (Sept. 27-Homecoming) and Maryland (Nov. 1). For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing 2014 season 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.
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