UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Tight end Pat Freiermuth, return specialist KJ Hamler and linebacker Micah Parsons have all been selected to The Athletic Freshman All-America Team after stellar rookie campaigns. Penn State's three Freshman All-America selections are the most of any school.
Pat Freiermuth, TE/H, Fr./Fr., 6-5, 258, Merrimac, Mass./Brooks School
- Named to The Athletic Freshman All-America team.
- Leads the Nittany Lions with seven receiving touchdowns, which is also tied for second nationally among tight ends.
- Sits tied for sixth in the Big Ten with seven touchdown receptions.
- Ranks third on the team with 330 yards and second with 24 receptions.
- Has made a catch in 10-straight games, dating back to the Pitt (9/8) game.
- Has the most touchdown receptions by a PSU freshman since Deon Butler (9) in 2005.
- Made two grabs for 35 yards, including a 23-yard reception vs. Kent State (9/15).
- Caught his first career touchdown, a 5-yard reception in the second quarter at Illinois (9/21).
- Caught three passes for 44 yards and hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception versus Ohio State (9/29).
- Hauled in three catches for 32 yards, including a 25-yard grab in the third quarter against 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, including a 16-yard reception, versus 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).
KJ Hamler, KR, So./Fr., 5-9, 173, Pontiac, Mich./IMG Academy (Fla.)
- Named to The Athletic Freshman All-America team as a kick/punt returner and all-purpose player.
- 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).
Micah Parsons, LB, Fr./Fr., 6-3, 240, Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg
- Named to The Athletic Freshman All-America team.
- 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).
The No. 12 Nittany Lions will face No. 14 Kentucky in the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Tuesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. The game will air on ABC.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new 2019 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 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.