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Allen Leads All-Big Ten Defensive Selections

Nov. 28, 2017

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Senior safety Marcus Allen led Penn State's All-Big Ten defensive selections, while kick returner Saquon Barkley paced the special teams honorees. Allen is a first team choice by the coaches and a second team selection by the media. Barkley collects first team accolades as a kick return specialist from both the coaches and the media.

Joining Allen on the All-Big Ten defensive team are senior linebacker Jason Cabinda (second team - coaches; honorable mention - media), junior cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who was second team pick by the coaches and media, and sophomore defensive end Shareef Miller (third team - media; honorable mention - coaches). Additionally, on the Big Ten honorable mention squad are Troy Apke (media), Christian Campbell (coaches & media), Curtis Cothran (coaches), Parker Cothren (media) and Grant Haley (coaches & media).

In addition to Barkley on special teams, punter Blake Gillikin has been selected to the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches and media, while punter returner DeAndre Thompkins garners second team accolades from the coaches and third team laurels from the media.

Senior linebacker Brandon Smith is Penn State's sportsmanship selection.

Marcus Allen, S, Sr./Sr., 6-2, 207, Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr.

  • First-team all-conference selection by the coaches and second-team All-Big Ten choice by the media.
  • Earns third All-Big Ten honor of his career with appearances on the coaches' third team in 2016 and honorable mention by the media (2015, 2016) and coaches (2015).
  • Is the first Nittany Lion safety to earn All-Big Ten first team accolades since Anthony Scirrotto claimed honors in 2008.
  • Second on the team with 65 tackles and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.
  • Is No. 25 among active FBS defenders with 314 career tackles.
  • Is just the sixth Nittany Lion to reach the 300-tackle mark in a career.
  • Ranks No. 6 on Penn State's career tackles chart with 314 stops, trailing Brian Gelzheiser (315; 1991-94) for No. 5.
  • Owns nine career double-digit tackle games (two in 2014, two in 2015, three in 2016, two in 2017).
  • Named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, along with teammate Grant Haley.
  • Selected as a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, along with teammate Jason Cabinda.
  • Earned the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week on Sept. 12 after piling up 13 tackles vs. Pittsburgh.
  • Named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award weekly honor roll on Sept. 13 for his efforts vs. Pittsburgh.
  • Earned Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following his effort vs. Indiana (9/30).
  • Logged a fourth-quarter tackle for loss against Pitt, taking down running back Darrin Hall for a safety, the first Penn State safety since 2010 (Devon Still, vs. Minnesota).
  • Grabbed the first interception of his career against Georgia State in the second quarter and returned it 50 yards.
  • Boasted a game-high 10 tackles at Ohio State, including nine solo stops.

Jason Cabinda, LB, Sr./Sr., 6-1, 234, Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central

  • All-Big Ten second team selection by the coaches and honorable mention pick by the media.
  • Collects third all-conference honor of his career with a berth on the coaches' third team in 2016 and honorable mention by the media (2015, 2016) and coaches (2015).
  • Is the first Penn State linebacker to earn All-Big Ten first or second team honors since Mike Hull (first team) in 2014.
  • Leads the team with 84 tackles.
  • Has two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
  • Is tied for 35th among active FBS players with 282 career tackles.
  • Ranks No. 9 on the career tackles chart with 282 stops.
  • Ranks 16th in the Big Ten in tackles per game (7.0).
  • Owns nine career double-digit tackle games (three in 2015, three in 2016, three in 2017).
  • Earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Bachie, MSU) and Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week after 12 tackles, a half-sack and a forced fumble vs. Michigan.
  • Selected as a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
  • Was the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week on Oct. 2 after producing a career-high-tying 14 tackles vs. Indiana.
  • Earned Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following his effort vs. Indiana (9/30).
  • Made a career-high-tying 14 tackles (Army, 2015) against Indiana, including six solo tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
  • Led all defenders with 12 tackles and forced his second career fumble in the third quarter against Michigan.
  • Totaled a game-high 11 tackles against Rutgers

Amani Oruwariye, CB, Sr./Jr., 6-1, 209, Tampa, Fla./Gaither

  • Second-team All-Big Ten selection.
  • Is the first Nittany Lion cornerback to earn first or second team All-Big Ten honors since Lydell Sargeant (second team) in 2008.
  • Sits tied for No. 19 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten in interceptions (4).
  • Ranks No. 30 in the FBS and No. 3 in the Big Ten in passes defended per game (1.2).
  • His six passes defended vs. Michigan State (5 PBU, 1 INT) are tied for the most in the FBS this season (D. Ward, Ohio State vs. Indiana; D. Lewis Jr., Tulane vs. East Carolina; K. Boyd, Texas vs. Texas Tech).
  • Ranks third on the team with eight pass breakups.
  • Hauled in his second career interception to create Penn State's first takeaway of the season against Akron.
  • Posted his third career interception - and second of the season -- and returned it for 17 yards against Indiana.
  • Totaled five tackles at Ohio State.
  • Had a fourth-quarter interception to end a Michigan State drive deep in Penn State territory.
  • Registered a career-high five pass breakups against the Spartans, the most by a Nittany Lion since Justin King's five vs. Purdue in 2007.
  • Made five stops, including one on kickoff coverage, versus Nebraska.

Shareef Miller, DE, Jr./So., 6-5, 257, Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington

  • Third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and honorable mention recipient by the coaches.
  • Leads the team with 4.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss.
  • Has nine QB hurries.
  • Earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week on Oct. 24 after his showing vs. Michigan.
  • Added to the Bednarik Award watch list at mid-season.
  • Selected to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after a posting two tackles behind the line vs. Nebraska.
  • Tied a career high with two sacks, with solo quarterback takedowns in the second and third quarters, against Pitt.
  • Tied his career high with five tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, at Iowa.
  • Took down Akrum Wadley for a safety, marking the first time since 2004 the Nittany Lions had multiple safeties in a season.
  • Totaled four tackles and one quarterback hurry against Indiana.
  • Made four stops, including a combined sack with Ryan Buchholz and three other stops went for no gain, 1 yard and no gain, at Northwestern.
  • Tied a career high with five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and had a fumble recovery at Ohio State.

Blake Gillikin, P, So./So., 6-2, 195, Smyrna, Ga./The Westminster Schools

  • Second-team All-Big Ten choice.
  • Is the first Penn State punter to earn first or second team All-Big Ten accolades since Jeremy Boone (second team) in 2009.
  • Earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.
  • Sits No. 17 among active punters in punting average (43.0).
  • Ranks No. 2 on Penn State's career punting average charts (43.0).
  • Has 24 career punts downed inside the opponent's 10-yard line (seven in 2016, 17 in 2017).
  • Sits No. 35 in the FBS and No. 2 in the B1G in punting average (43.2).
  • Punted twice in the fourth quarter for an average of 50.0 yards per punt against Akron.
  • Hit six punts for an average of 43.2 yards and pinned Pittsburgh inside its own 20-yard line on four occasions, including a career-high three inside the Panthers' 10-yard line.
  • Booted three punts, two of which were downed inside the GSU 20-yard line, for an average of 45.3 yards per punt against Georgia State.
  • Hit six punts for an average of 46.5 yards per punt and placed four punts inside the Indiana 20-yard line, including two inside the IU 10-yard line.
  • Hit two punts for an average of 49.5 yards, including a long punt of 56 yards against Michigan.
  • Averaged 45.2 yards per punt on four boots at Maryland.

Saquon Barkley, KR, Jr./Jr., 5-11, 230, Coplay, Pa./Whitehall

  • First-team All-Big Ten return specialist.
  • Is the first Penn State player to be named all-conference return specialist (added in 2015).
  • Selected as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award.
  • Named a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
  • Owns nine games with 200-plus all-purpose yards in his career (four in 2016, five in 2017).
  • Has six Player of the Week honors in 2017 (four offensive, two special teams), which are the most in a single season in Big Ten history.
  • Is 1-of-5 student-athlete in the FBS with four all-purpose plays of 80 yards or longer in 2017.
  • Ranks No. 2 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (179.50).
  • Ranks No. 4 nationally and leads the Big Ten in kickoff return touchdowns (2).
  • Ranks No. 10 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in kickoff return average (28.4).
  • Is tied for the program single season record with two kickoff return touchdowns, equaling the marks of Chuck Peters (1940), Curt Warner (1980) and Derrick Williams (2008).
  • Ranks No. 2 on the single season all-purpose yards list with 2,154 yards in 2017, just the second player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 all-purpose yard mark (Larry Johnson, 2,655; 2002).
  • Set the single game all-purpose yards mark with 358 at Iowa (9/23/17), accounting for 211 yards rushing, 94 yards receiving and 53 yards on kickoff return, topping Curt Warner's previous mark of 341 vs. Syracuse in 1981.
  • Earned Midseason All-America honors from The All-American, Associated Press, CBSSports.com, ESPN.com, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated (RB & all-purpose)and USA Today.
  • Selected to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll on Sept. 11 after posting 183-all purpose yards and two touchdowns vs. Pittsburgh.
  • The effort vs. Iowa also earned him Rose Bowl Big Ten Player of the Week and Maxwell Award Player of the Week, along with a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll and Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week.
  • Named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week and garnered a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll on Oct. 2 after posting 205 all-purpose yards vs. Indiana, including a 98-yard kickoff return for the touchdown to open the game.
  • Added his second Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Award on Oct. 30 after returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown at Ohio State.
  • Garnered Big Ten Player of the Week and a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after logging 224 all-purpose yards vs. Nebraska (11/18).
  • Became the first Big Ten player and sixth FBS player with a kickoff return for a touchdown and a passing touchdown in the same game since 1996 against Indiana.
  • Returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against Indiana, the first Penn State kickoff return for a touchdown since 2011.
  • Returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown at Ohio State.

DeAndre Thompkins, PR, Sr./Jr./ 5-11, 187, Hubert, N.C./Swansboro

  • Second-team All-Big Ten return specialist by the coaches and third team by the media.
  • Ranks No. 13 among active FBS punt returners in punt return average (10.8).
  • Ranks tied for No. 20 on the active punt return for a touchdown list (1).
  • Set a school record for punt return average in a game with 31.8 yard per return vs. Akron (9/2/17), besting Derrick Williams' mark of 31.7 vs. Temple (2006).
  • Became the first Penn Stater to return a punt for a touchdown since Derrick Williams at Wisconsin in 2008 and the first to return a punt for touchdown by a Nittany Lion at Beaver Stadium since Williams did so vs. Notre Dame in 2007.
  • Ranks No. 3 nationally and leads the Big Ten in punt return average (14.5 ypr).
  • Tied for No. 10 national and No. 2 in the Big Ten in punt return touchdowns (1).
  • Returned four punts for 127 yards and one touchdown against Akron.
  • Returned three punts for 31 yards against Pitt and had a long return of 16 yards.
  • Returned three punts for 44 yards, including a long return of 27 yards, against Georgia State.

Christian Campbell, CB, Sr./Sr., 6-1, 194, Phenix City, Ala./Central

  • Honorable-mention all-conference by coaches and media.
  • Leads the team with 12 pass breakups.
  • Ranks seventh on the team with 41 tackles.
  • Had at least one pass breakup in seven-straight games from the 2017 Rose Bowl to Northwestern.
  • Registered four tackles, including three solo, and two pass breakups against Pitt.
  • Tallied four tackles, one pass breakup and forced the first fumble of the game, which was recovered by Jason Cabinda, against Indiana.
  • Made four tackles and hauled in his first interception of the season to end the first half at Northwestern.
  • Made a highlight defensive play on a strip-sack of John O'Korn in the fourth quarter against Michigan.
  • Tied his career high with six stops at Ohio State.

Grant Haley, CB, Sr./Sr., 5-9, 190, Atlanta, Ga./The Lovett School

  • Honorable-mention all-conference by coaches and media.
  • Second All-Big Ten award of his career after an honorable mention appearance on the media's team in 2015.
  • Is second on the squad with 10 pass breakups.
  • Ranks eighth on the team with 36 tackles.
  • Named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, along with teammate Marcus Allen.
    Earned Midseason All-America honors from The All-American and USA Today.
  • Namedto the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week on Sept. 12 after grabbing his first interception of the season vs. Pittsburgh.
  • Earned Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following his effort vs. Indiana (9/30).
  • Garnered a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week on Oct. 10 after a three-tackle, three-pass breakup effort at Northwestern.

Troy Apke, S, Sr./Sr., 6-1, 198, Mt. Lebanon, Pa./Mount Lebanon

  • Honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the media.
  • Is fourth on the team with 52 tackles.
  • Earned Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week honors on Sept. 12 after collecting an interception and five tackles vs. Pittsburgh.
  • Blocked his first career kick on a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter at Iowa.
  • Notched a career-high eight tackles, including six solo, at Ohio State.
  • Tied his career high with eight tackles, including five solo, and added one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry at Michigan State.

Curtis Cothran, DT, Gr./Sr., 6-5, 301, Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North

  • Honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.
  • Has 3.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss on the season.
  • Totaled three tackles, including 1.0 TFL, against Akron.
  • Had two tackles and toppled Clayton Thorson on a first-quarter sack for a loss of 8 yards on first-and-goal during Northwestern's opening drive.
  • Registered a solo sack of John O'Korn on third down of Michigan's opening drive to force a punt against Michigan.
  • Totaled two tackles, including a solo takedown of quarterback J.T. Barrett in the first quarter at Ohio State.

Parker Cothren, DT, Gr./Sr., 6-4, 304, Huntsville, Ala./Hazel Green

  • Honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the media.
  • Logged two stops against Pittsburgh.
  • Made a pair of tackles against Georgia State.
  • Totaled four tackles and recovered a third-quarter fumble against Indiana.
  • Made three tackles at Northwestern.
  • Made four tackles and logged a solo quarterback takedown in the fourth quarter against Michigan.
  • Posted three stops and added one quarterback hurry at Michigan State.

Brandon Smith, LB, Gr./Sr., 6-0, 231, Winfield, Pa./Lewisburg

  • Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner for Penn State.
  • Earned CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades.
  • Selected to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
  • Named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded by the National Football Foundation, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
  • Selected as a semifinalist for the inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award.
  • Ranks third on the team with 55 tackles.
  • Made the start against Rutgers and posted 10 stops for the second double-digit tackle effort of his career.
  • Piled up 13 stops for his third-career double-digit tackle game against Nebraska.
  • Led the team with five tackles at Maryland.

The Nittany Lions' bowl destination will be announced Sunday, Dec. 3. Fans can visit GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral to submit a request for tickets for the bowl. The ability to request tickets does not guarantee a Nittany Lion Club member will receive tickets from Penn State's allotment.

Penn State season ticket renewals and Nittany Lion Club membership renewals also are underway for the 2018 campaign. The ticket invoice and Nittany Lion Club renewal deadline is Feb. 1, 2018. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2017 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.