AllB1G_OffenseAllB1G_Offense

McSorley and Sanders Lead All-Big Ten Offensive Selections

Senior quarterback Trace McSorley collected his third consecutive All-Big Ten second team honor to headline the list of Nittany Lion offensive all-conference selections. Joining McSorley on the second team is junior running back Miles Sanders. McSorley is the first Penn State quarterback to earn three career All-Big Ten accolades.
 
Joining McSorley and Sanders on the All-Big Ten offensive team are junior offensive linemen Connor McGovern (third team – coaches & media) and Ryan Bates (third team – coaches & media), freshman wide receiver KJ Hamler (honorable mention – coaches & media), freshman tight end Pat Freiermuth (honorable mention – coaches & media) and junior offensive lineman Steven Gonzalez (honorable mention - coaches & media).
 
Trace McSorley, QB, Gr./Sr., 6-0, 203, Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods

  • All-Big Ten second team selection by the coaches and media.
  • Earns third-straight all-conference second team honor.
  • Is the first Penn State quarterback to earn All-Big Ten honors in three consecutive seasons.
  • Is a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
  • Named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, the 18th in program history...Finalist for the Campbell Trophy.
  • Finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
  • Selected as a Finalist for the Pop Warner National College Football Award.
  • Named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Big Ten team.
  • Named Rose Bowl Player of the Week and Senior Bowl Senior of the Week after the Ohio State (9/29) game.
  • Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Ohio State (9/29) game.
  • Selected to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Kent State (9/15) game.
  • One of 10 Penn Staters to enter 2018 having already earned a degree, graduating with his degree in accounting in May 2018.
  • Ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 31 in the FBS with 13.05 yards per completion.
  • Is No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 40 in FBS with 11 rushing touchdowns.
  • Sits No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 32 in FBS in points responsible for (162).
  • Ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 38 in FBS in points responsible for per game (13.5).
  • Ranks No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 44 in the country with 250.6 total yards per game.
  • Holds Penn State's career records for: wins (31), passing yards (9,653), passing touchdowns (75), pass completions (703), total offense (11,275), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (29), touchdowns responsible for (104), 300-yard passing games (10) and 200-yard passing games (27).
  • Threw at least one touchdown pass in 34-straight games, from the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl until Indiana in 2018, a Penn State record, which was previously held by Kerry Collins at 14-straight games from 1993-94. His streak is the fifth-longest in FBS Autonomy Five history.
  • McSorley has thrown for 2,284 yards and rushed for 723 yards this season, joining Michael Robinson (2005; 2,350 passing, 806 rushing) as the only PSU quarterbacks with 2,000 passing and 700 rushing yards in the same season.
  • McSorley is one of five players in FBS this season to have 2,000 passing yards and 700 rushing yards, joining Oklahoma's Kyler Murray, Virginia's Bryce Perkins, Ohio University's Nathan Rourke and Syracuse's Eric Dungy.
  • Established a Nittany Lion record with 461 total yards against Ohio State (9/29/18), including 286 passing and 175 rushing.
  • Is one of two Penn State quarterbacks with more than 1,000 rushing yards, joining Michael Robinson (1,637; 2002-05)
  • Owns 21 career games with both a rushing and passing touchdown (seven in 2016, nine in 2017, five in 2018).
  • Became the first Penn State player and 11th in Big Ten history to eclipse the 10,000-yard mark in total offense

 
Miles Sanders, RB, Jr./Jr., 5-11, 207, Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills

  • Second-team all-conference running back.
  • Became the 45th player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.
  • Ranks 30th all-time with 1,470 rushing yards.
  • Earned the program's 26th individual 1,000-yard rushing season (2018).
  • Has the 17th-most rushing yards in a PSU single-season.
  • Became the 28th player in program history to rush for 200 yards against Illinois (9/21).
  • Is one of six players in program history (nine occasions) to rush for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a game.
  • Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after Illinois (9/21) game.
  • Tabbed the Rose Bowl Game Big Ten Player of the Week following the Illinois (9/21) game.
  • Selected to Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Pittsburgh (9/8) game.
  • Ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 14 in the nation with 1,223 rushing yards.
  • Sits No. 4 in the conference and No. 22 in the FBS with 101.9 rushing yards per game.
  • Is No. 6 in the Big Ten in rushing touchdown (9) and No. 5 in the conference in yards per carry (4.79).
  • Ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 46 in FBS 112.92 all-purpose yards per contest.
  • Has five career 100-yard rushing games, all in 2018.
  • Had 19 rushes for 91 yards, with 62 yards coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 4-yard score in overtime against Appalachian State (9/1).
  • Rushed for 118 yards on 16 carries at Pittsburgh (9/8). Had three runs of 20 or more yards, including a 41-yard run in the first quarter.
  • Rushed for a career-best 200 yards with three touchdowns at Illinois (9/21).
  • Rushed for 162 yards on 17 carries with a 48-yard touchdown run against Michigan State (10/13). Also added a 78-yard run, the longest of his career.
  • Caught six passes for 54 yards, establishing career highs, at Indiana (10/20).
  • Earned his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 159 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries versus Wisconsin (11/10).
  • Toted the ball 14 times for 128 yards, with no negative yardage plays, against Maryland (11/24).

 
Ryan Bates, OL, Sr./Jr., 6-4, 302, Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood

  • Third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
  • Collects his second-straight all-conference berth.
  • Is the first Penn State offensive lineman to earn back-to-back all-conference honors (first, second or third team) since John Urschel in 2012 (first team) and 2013 (first team).
  • Started 12 games, nine at left tackle and three at right tackle.
  • Helped the Penn State offense rank No. 6 in red zone offense (.923) and No. 29 in scoring offense (34.6).
  • Led the way for the Nittany Lion offense to post seven 200-yard rushing contests, including six-straight to open the season.
  • Paved a path for Penn State to register three games with 500 or more yards of offense.
  • Protected for a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher.
  • Selected to Pro Football Focus National and Big Ten Teams of the Week following the Pittsburgh (9/8) game.

 
Connor McGovern, OL, Jr./Jr., 6-5, 323, Larksville, Pa./Lake-Lehman

  • Third-team all-conference selection by the coaches and media.
  • Started 12 games, 11 at right guard and one at center.
  • Helped the Penn State offense rank No. 6 in red zone offense (.923) and No. 29 in scoring offense (34.6).
  • Led the way for the Nittany Lion offense to post seven 200-yard rushing contests, including six-straight to open the season.
  • Paved a path for Penn State to register three games with 500 or more yards of offense.
  • Protected for a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher.
  • Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten and National Teams of the Week following the Wisconsin (11/10) game.
  • Selected for the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Rutgers (11/17) game.

 
Pat Freiermuth, TE/H, Fr./Fr., 6-5, 258, Merrimac, Mass./Brooks School

  • All-Big Ten honorable mention selection by the coaches and media.
  • Is the first Penn State freshman tight end to earn All-Big Ten honors since Kyle Carter (first team) in 2012.
  • Has made a catch in 11-straight games, dating back to the Pitt (9/8) game.
  • Has the most touchdown receptions (7) by a PSU freshman since Deon Butler (9) in 2005.
  • Sits sixth in the Big Ten with seven touchdown receptions.
  • Caught his first career touchdown, a 5-yard reception in the second quarter, at Illinois (9/21).
  • Caught three passes for 44 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown reception, against Ohio State (9/29).
  • Hauled in three catches for 32 yards with a long grab of 25 yards in the third quarter versus Michigan State (10/13).
  • Caught two passes for 32 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter, at Indiana (10/20).
  • Caught an 18-yard touchdown in the first quarter versus Iowa (10/27).
  • Hauled in three catches for a career-high 51 yards, including a 25-yard reception on PSU's opening drive, at Michigan (11/3).
  • Made three catches for 34 yards against Wisconsin (11/10).
  • Hauled in three catches for 47 yards, including touchdown receptions of 6 and 18 yards, at Rutgers (11/17).
  • Had two catches for 27 yards and a touchdown against Maryland (11/24).

 
Steven Gonzalez, OL, Sr./Jr., 6-4, 325, Union City, N.J./Union City

  • Honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice by coaches and media.
  • Started 12 games at left guard.
  • Helped the Penn State offense rank No. 6 in red zone offense (.923) and No. 29 in scoring offense (34.6).
  • Led the way for the Nittany Lion offense to post seven 200-yard rushing contests, including six-straight to open the season.
  • Paved a path for Penn State to register three games with 500 or more yards of offense.
  • Protected for a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher.

 
KJ Hamler, KR, So./Fr., 5-9, 173, Pontiac, Mich./IMG Academy (Fla.)

  • Honorable-mention all-conference as a wide receiver by coaches and media.
  • 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.
  • Has a reception in all 11 games this season.
  • Has six games with 4 or more catches and nine multi-catch games.
  • 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.
  • Caught three passes for 67 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to tie the game with 42 seconds left in regulation against Appalachian State (9/1). Became first Penn State freshman to catch a touchdown pass in a season opener since Geno Lewis in 2013 against Syracuse
  • Hauled in three receptions for 40 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, and scored on a 32-yard run, his first career rush at Pittsburgh (9/8). Became the first PSU receiver with a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since Derrick Williams against Indiana in 2008
  • 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).
  • Hauled in two receptions for 41 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter at Illinois (9/21).
  • Earned first career 100-yard receiving game, catching four passes for 138 yards with a 93-yard touchdown catch, the second-longest in program history, against Ohio State (9/29).
  • 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).
  • Caught five passes for 66 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown, versus Michigan State (10/13).
  • Hauled in four receptions for 27 yards 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).
  • Matched a career high with five catches for 35 yards against Wisconsin (11/10).
  • Caught a career-high-tying five passes for 71 yards at Rutgers (11/17)
  • Had three receptions for 90 yards, including a 34-yard reception on a hook-and-ladder to end the first half, against Maryland (11/24).

 
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