July 24, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; July 24, 2018 -- A trio of Nittany Lions had their names added to preseason watch lists Tuesday with Amani Oruwariye (Tampa, Fla.) among the candidates for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Ryan Bates (Warrington, Pa.) and Connor McGovern (Larksville, Pa.) among the nominees for the Outland Trophy.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given yearly to the National Defensive Player of the Year. The award is named for legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota, Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football then became a star for the Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Penn State has never won a Nagurski Trophy, but has had five finalists, most recently Carl Nassib in 2015.
The Outland Trophy is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn at the turn of the 20th century and is given to the nation's top interior lineman (offensive or defensive). Penn State defensive tackle Mike Reid won the Outland Trophy in 1969 and All-America defensive tackle Devon Still was the most recent Nittany Lion finalist, in 2011.
Oruwariye collected second-team All-Big Ten accolades last season, becoming the first Nittany Lion cornerback to earn first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors since Lydell Sargeant (second team) in 2008. Oruwariye also garnered first-team All-ECAC laurels. He led the team and finished 29th in FBS with four interceptions. He also finished tied for 10th in the Big Ten in passes defended per game (1.1). Oruwariye had six passes defended (5 PBU, 1 INT) at Michigan State, which was tied for the most in a game in FBS in 2017. He totaled 28 tackles on the season, including 19 solo stops.
Bates and McGovern were key members of a line which helped the offense that finished seventh in FBS in scoring offense (41.1) and 19th in total offense (460.3). The Nittany Lions broke the Penn State record for points scored (534) and finished second in program history in yards per play (6.58) and total offense yards (5984). The native of Larksville, Pennsylvania, blocked for 2017 Paul Hornung Award winner and fourth-place Heisman Trophy finisher Saquon Barkley and All-Big Ten second team quarterback Trace McSorley. Barkley and McSorley posted back-to-back seasons with 1,000 rushing yards and 3,000 passing yards, respectively, becoming the first tandem in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons.
Nine different Nittany Lions have been named to preseason watch lists. They include: junior offensive lineman Ryan Bates -- Outland Trophy (top interior lineman) senior linebacker Koa Farmer -- Butkus Award (top linebacker); junior tight end Jonathan Holland -- Mackey Award (most outstanding collegiate tight end); junior center Connor McGovern -- Rimmington Trophy (nation's top center), Outland Trophy (top interior lineman); senior quarterback Trace McSorley -- Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year), Davey O'Brien Award (nation's top quarterback); junior defensive end Shareef Miller -- Bednarik Award (National Defensive Player of the Year); junior running back Miles Sanders -- Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back); senior safety Nick Scott -- Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; head coach James Franklin -- Bobby Dodd Trophy (nation's top coach).
The Nittany Lions' home schedule features five Big Ten Conference games, including visits from 2017 Big Ten Championship Game participants Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions open the season against Appalachian State (Sept. 1; 3:30 p.m.) and Kent State (Sept. 15; noon) in non-conference action. In Big Ten play, Penn State welcomes Ohio State (Sept. 29), Michigan State (Oct. 13; 3:30/4 p.m.), Iowa (Oct. 27), Wisconsin (Nov. 10) and Maryland (Nov. 24) to Happy Valley.
More than 6,300 new season tickets have been sold for the 2018 season presented by PSECU. The public single game sale takes place beginning June 26. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.NittanyLionClub.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.