Nov. 2, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior defensive end Carl Nassib (West Chester, Pa.) is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award for the College Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of 20 candidates for the award.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
The Nittany Lions' four Bednarik Award recipients are the most of any school in the nation.
Nassib has sprung onto the national scene this year and leads FBS in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (18.5) and is third in forced fumbles (5). He has recorded a sack in each game this season and five multi-sack games. Nassib's 14.5 sacks this season are the most by a Nittany Lion since Michael Haynes tied Larry Kubin's school record of 15 sacks in 2002. Kubin recorded 15 sacks in 1979.
Additionally, Nassib is the first Penn State player to force two fumbles in two games in a season since Maurice Evans did it in 2007. Evans had two forced fumbles against Indiana and two forced fumbles against Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. Nassib's five forced fumbles this season are the most by a Penn State player since Evans had five in the 2007 season. He was recently added to the Bednarik Award watch list for the nation's Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a midseason All-America choice by SI.com, ESPN.com, USAToday.com and CBS Sports.
Three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 24. The winner of the 2015 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be held on December 10 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The Nittany Lions travel to Evanston to face Northwestern Saturday at noon. The game will air on ESPNU, the Penn State Sports Network (10:30 a.m. pregame) and GoPSUsports.com.
Tickets for the Nittany Lions' home finale are available. Penn State hosts Michigan on Nov. 21 for Senior Day and a Penn State WhiteOut. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.