Senior cornerback Amani Oruwariye and sophomore defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos lead Penn State's All-Big Ten defensive selections, while kick returner KJ Hamler is Penn State's special teams honoree. Oruwariye is a first team choice by the coaches and media, while Gross-Matos is a first team selection by the media and third team honoree by the coaches. Hamler is an honorable mention choice by both the coaches and the media.
Joining Oruwariye and Gross-Matos on the All-Big Ten defensive team are junior defensive end Shareef Miller (third team – coaches & media), junior safety Garrett Taylor (honorable mention – coaches & media), junior defensive tackle Robert Windsor (honorable mention – coaches & media), junior cornerback John Reid (honorable mention – coaches & media), senior safety Nick Scott (honorable mention – media) and freshman linebacker Micah Parsons (honorable mention – media).
Scott is Penn State's sportsmanship selection.
Amani Oruwariye, CB, Gr./Sr., 6-1, 203, Tampa, Fla./Gaither
- First-team all-conference selection by the coaches and media.
- Earns second All-Big Ten honor of his career with an appearance on the coaches' and media's second team in 2017.
- Is the first Nittany Lion cornerback to earn All-Big Ten first team accolades since Justin King claimed honors in 2007.
- Ranks No. 17 in FBS and No. 4 in the Big Ten in passes defended with 1.3 per game.
- Leads the team and is tied for No. 6 in the Big Ten in interceptions (3).
- Named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Big Ten team.
- Selected to Pro Football Focus National and Big Ten Teams of the Week following the Pittsburgh (9/8) game.
- One of 10 Penn Staters to enter 2018 having already earned a degree having graduated with his degree in telecommunications in December 2017.
- Sealed the game with an interception in overtime, his sixth career pick, his third-straight season opener with a pick against App State (9/1). Also recorded seven tackles and forced the first fumble of his career.
- Picked off a pass in the first quarter, marking the second time in his career he made interceptions in back-to-back games, at Pittsburgh (9/8).
- Collected four tackles and broke up four passes against Michigan State (10/13).
- Recorded a career-best nine tackles at Indiana (10/20).
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, So./So., 6-5, 259, Spotsylvania, Va./Chancellor
- All-Big Ten first team selection by the media and third team pick by the coaches.
- Is the first Penn State defensive end to earn All-Big Ten first team honors since Carl Nassib in 2015.
- Ranks No. 9 in FBS and No. 2 in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 1.7 per game (20 total).
- Leads the team and is No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 36 in FBS in sacks with 0.7 per game (8.0 total).
- Is tied for No. 8 on Penn State's single-season tackles for loss list with 20.
- Ranks No. 6 on the team with 54 tackles.
- Has five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
- Named to the Hendricks Award (Top Defensive End) Watch List.
- Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following the Iowa (10/27) game.
- Had at least a half-sack in five-straight games from Michigan State (10/13) until Wisconsin (11/10).
- Has at least a full tackle for loss in nine-straight games, dating back to the Kent State (9/15) game.
- Had 2.0 tackles for loss, including a sack against Kent State (9/15).
- Collected four tackles, including two solo, with 2.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack against Michigan State (10/13).
- At Indiana (10/20), registered a career-high 10 tackles, including six tackles and two sacks, the most tackles by a Penn State a Penn State defensive lineman since Austin Johnson had 10 tackles against Northwestern in 2015.
- Posted nine tackles, including seven solo, and set a career high with four tackles for loss and tied a career high with two sacks against Iowa (10/27).
- Recorded five solo tackles with two tackles for loss, including a strip-sack, against Wisconsin (11/10).
- Had four tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, in the regular-season finale against Maryland (11/24).
Shareef Miller, DE, Sr./Jr., 6-5, 260, Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington
- Third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
- Earns second career all-conference nod after an appearance on the media's third team and coaches' honorable mention squad last season.
- Second on the team with 14.0 tackles for loss and third in sacks with 7.0.
- Has four QB hurries and one forced fumble.
- Ranks No. 10 in the Big Ten with 0.58 sacks per game.
- Recorded three tackles and a tackle for loss against Appalachian State (9/1).
- Made two tackles for loss, including a solo sack, at Pittsburgh (9/8).
- Recorded a career-best three tackles for loss and tied a career high with two sacks against Kent State (9/15).
- Matched a career best with five tackles, including three solo stops, versus Ohio State (9/29).
- Recorded two solo tackles, both for loss, and registered a sack and a QB hurry against Michigan State (10/13).
- Recorded three solo tackles, matched a career high with two sacks and recovered a fumble and returned it 7 yards against Wisconsin (11/10).
- Made a career-best seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, including a solo sack at Rutgers (11/17).
Robert Windsor, DT, Sr./Jr., 6-4, 295, Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac
- All-Big Ten honorable mention choice by coaches and media.
- Ranks second on the team, No. 45 in FBS and No. 7 in the Big Ten in sacks per game with 0.63 (7.5 total).
- Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following the Wisconsin (11/10) game.
- Selected Outback Bowl Player of the Week after the Wisconsin game.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after the Wisconsin game.
- Selected for the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Rutgers (11/17) game.
- Made a career-best six tackles, including three solo stops, and set a career mark with 2.5 tackles for loss to go along with 1.5 sacks at Illinois (9/21). Also had a forced fumble.
- Recorded five tackles, including two solo, and assisted on a sack and registered a full tackle for loss versus Ohio State (9/29).
- Tied a career high with six tackles, five solo, and set a career high with two sacks versus Wisconsin (11/10).
- Matched a career best with six tackles, including four solo, and had two tackles for loss with a sack at Rutgers (11/17). Also forced a fumble in the third quarter.
- Recorded three tackles, including a sack, against Maryland (11/24).
John Reid, CB, Sr./Jr., 5-10, 180, Mount Laurel, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.)
- All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by coaches and media.
- Collects his second all-conference honor after being named honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2016.
- Is a nominee for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year.
- Has 24 tackles.
- Registered two interceptions and eight pass breakups.
- In No. 19 in the Big Ten in interceptions per game (0.2).
- Made three tackles and broke up a pass against Ohio State (9/29).
- Collected four tackles, including two solo, and broke up a pass versus Michigan State (10/13).
- Registered a career-high eight tackles, making six solo stops, at Indiana (10/20).
- Intercepted a pass in the second quarter, returning it 44 yards, and broke up three passes against Iowa (10/27).
- Made three stops, including one solo, and intercepted a pass in the second quarter at Rutgers (11/17).
Garrett Taylor, S, Sr./Jr., 6-0, 203, Richmond, Va./Saint Christopher's
- Honorable-mention all-conference by coaches and media.
- Is tied for the team lead and ranks No. 6 in the Big Ten with three interceptions.
- Ranks third on the team with 61 tackles.
- Is tied for third on the team with seven pass breakups.
- Made a career-high eight tackles, including six solo, in his first career start against Appalachian State (9/1).
- Collected five tackles at Pittsburgh (9/8).
- Made three tackles and broke up a pass against Kent State (9/15).
- Recorded seven tackles, including a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss, at Illinois (9/21).
- Recorded his first career interception, returning it 45 yards, and collected four tackles versus Ohio State (9/29).
- Tallied six tackles to go along with an interception in the third quarter and a career-high five passes against Michigan State (10/13).
- Recovered a fumble in the third quarter and added three tackles at Indiana (10/20).
- Collected six tackles, including three solo, in the second half against Iowa (10/27).
- Registered seven tackles, including five solo, and recovered a blocked field goal and returned it 9 yards in the second quarter at Michigan (11/3).
- Made five stops and intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 2 yards at Rutgers (11/17).
- Had five tackles against Maryland (11/24).
Micah Parsons, LB, Fr./Fr./6-3, 240, Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg
- All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media.
- Named to ESPN's Midseason Freshman All-America Team.
- Selected Midseason Freshman All-America by 247Sports.com.
- Leads the team with 69 tackles.
- Has 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and four quarterback hurries.
- Assisted on four tackles and recovered an on-side kick against Appalachian State (9/1).
- Tied for a team high with seven tackles, including five solo stops, at Pittsburgh (9/8). Also helped to cause a fumble on a muffed punt in the second quarter.
- Recorded five tackles, with two solo, versus Kent State (9/15).
- Collected six tackles at Illinois (9/21)
- Posted five tackles and contributed a QB hurry against Michigan State (10/13).
- Registered a career-high eight tackles, including seven solo, at Indiana (10/20).
- Made seven stops, including three solo, and added a QB hurry against Iowa (10/27).
- Tied a career high with eight tackles, including four solo, at Michigan (11/3).
- Recorded seven tackles against Wisconsin (11/10).
- Collected seven tackles and had two tackles for loss, including a strip-sack in the first quarter, at Rutgers (11/17).
- Tallied four tackles, including one tackle for loss, against Maryland (11/24).
Nick Scott, S, Gr./Sr., 5-11, 200, Fairfax, Va./Fairfax
- Honorable-mention all-conference by media.
- Is Penn State's Sportsmanship honoree.
- Is tied for the team lead and ranks No. 6 in the Big Ten with three interceptions.
- Ranks fifth on the team with 59 tackles.
- Is third on the team with seven pass breakups.
- Was a candidate on the preseason watch list for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
- One of 10 Penn Staters to enter 2018 having already earned a degree, having graduated with his degree in psychology in May 2018.
- Made a career-best nine stops against Appalachian State (9/1). Also notched his first career sack and tied career highs with a full tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
- Recorded four tackles, including a solo stop, against Kent State (9/15).
- Made five stops, including four solo tackles, at Illinois (9/21).
- Collected five tackles, including three solo, against Ohio State (9/29).
- Tallied five tackles against Michigan State (10/13).
- Recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter and added a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter on a punt return at Indiana (10/20). Also collected seven tackles.
- Made a big interception in the fourth quarter, picking it off on the PSU 2 and returning it 7 yards to prevent an Iowa score (10/27). Also registered five tackles.
- Collected five tackles and blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter at Michigan (11/3). The block was Penn State's first blocked field goal since Troy Apke at Iowa in 2017.
- Made five stops and intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 8 yards against Wisconsin (11/10).
- Collected six tackles at Rutgers (11/17).
KJ Hamler, KR, So./Fr., 5-9, 173, Pontiac, Mich./IMG Academy (Fla.)
- Honorable-mention all-conference as a return specialist by coaches and media.
- Selected as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award for the FBS' Most Versatile Player.
- Named to Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (9/10) following the Pitt game.
- Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (10/1) after the Ohio State game.
- Selected to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (10/1) after the Ohio State game.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week (10/1) following the Ohio State game.
- Ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 27 in the FBS with 589 total return yards.
- Sits No. 17 in the nation and No. 3 in the conference with a 26.0 kick return average.
- Is No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 50 in the country with 111.25 all-purpose yards per game.
- Ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 37 in FBS averaging 17.39 yards per reception.
- Returned a kickoff 52 yards to spark PSU's game-tying drive versus Appalachian State (9/1).
- Had kick returns of 27 and 28 yards for a total of 145 all-purpose yards at Pittsburgh (9/8).
- Totaled 107 all-purpose yards on three touches, catching a 22-yard pass, returning a kickoff 52 yards and a punt 33 yards against Kent State (9/15).
- Had a 17-yard punt return and a 12-yard kick return at Illinois (9/21).
- Totaled a career-best 195 all-purpose yards, including 47 yards on three kick returns and a 10-yard punt return, against Ohio State (9/29).
- Returned three kickoffs for 57 yards, including a 24-yard return, against Michigan State (10/13).
- Returned the opening kickoff 58 yards, a career-best return, and added a 21-yard kick return and a 16-yard punt return at Indiana (10/20).
- Totaled 188 all-purpose yards via five passes for 96 yards and 82 kick return yards, including a career-best 67-yard return in the fourth quarter, against Iowa (10/27). Also gained 10 yards on three punt returns.
- Returned two kickoffs for 30 yards and had a 1-yard punt return at Michigan (11/3).
- Matched a career high with five catches for 35 yards against Wisconsin (11/10).
- Had a 15-yard punt return at Rutgers (11/17).
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