UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior tight end Pat Freiermuth highlighted Penn State's six All-Big Ten honorees on offense as he was named the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, it was announced on Tuesday. Freiermuth is Penn State's first ever tight end to win the award.
Penn State's All-Big Ten honorees on offense were as follows:
Pat Freiermuth
Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), Second Team All-Big Ten (Media)
Will Fries
Second Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Media)
Mike Miranda
Second Team All-Big Ten (Coaches & Media)
Jahan Dotson
Third Team All-Big Ten (Coaches & Media)
Michal Menet
Third Team All-Big Ten (Coaches & Media)
Rasheed Walker
Third Team All-Big Ten (Media), Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches)
A preseason first team All-American by numerous outlets and a John Mackey and Biletnikoff Award watch lister, Freiermuth started the first four games of the season before being lost for the year due to injury. Prior to his injury, he led all FBS tight ends with 5.8 receptions per game, ranked fifth among tight ends averaging 77.5 receiving yards per game, and sat seventh overall in the Big Ten in receptions, eighth in receiving yards (310) and ninth in receiving yards per game. Freiermuth has caught at least one pass in 29-straight games dating back to the Pitt game (9/8/18), which was tied as the longest active streak among FBS tight ends with Wisconsin's Jake Ferguson (29) through Nov. 14.
Dotson's 695 yards rank 27th nationally and his six touchdowns rank tied for 25th among teams who have played at least eight games. His 46 receptions rank 38th and he is averaging 15.4 yards per reception (minimum 45 catches) through his first eight games of 2020, which ranks ninth nationally and fourth in the Power Five for a player's first eight games of the 2020 season. Dotson is one of five Power Five receivers to total at least 46 receptions, 695 yards receiving and six receiving touchdowns in their first eight games this season, joining Ole Miss' Elijah Moore (86 rec, 1,193 yards, 8 TD), Alabama's Devonta Smith (72 rec, 1074 yards, 12 TD), LSU's Terrace Marshall Jr. (48 rec, 731 yards, 10 TD) and Clemson's Amari Rodgers (48 rec, 720 yards, 6 TD) and one of 10 in FBS. Since 2000, Dotson is the only Penn State receiver to total at least 46 receptions, 695 yards receiving and six receiving touchdowns in the first eight games of a season.
Fries (41 career starts), Menet (33), Walker (21) and Miranda (17) have started all eight games on the Nittany Lion offensive line this season. The unit helped the Nittany Lion offense to gain 488 yards, including 250 on the ground, in the season opener at Indiana. At Nebraska, the offensive line paved the way for the Nittany Lions to gain 501 yards, including 245 on the ground. Penn State then toped that mark the following week at Rutgers, as the line led the way for the Nittany Lions to rush for 248 yards, their fourth 245-plus yard rushing game of the season.
The Big will announce defensive honorees on Wednesday and special teams winners on Thursday.
The 2020 Penn State Football Season is presented by PSECU.
