UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior wide receiver and punt returner Jahan Dotson, along with redshirt senior offensive lineman Will Fries, picked up additional yearly honors from the Big Ten on Thursday. Dotson earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod as a return specialist, while Fries was named Penn State's sportsmanship award honoree.
Dotson returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State, marking the first Nittany Lion punt return for a touchdown since DeAndre Thompkins scored on a 39-yard return against Pittsburgh in 2018. The 81-yard punt return is tied for the eighth-longest in program history, tying Bryant Johnson's return against Michigan State in 2002. He became one of three Big Ten players to have 100 receiving yards and a punt return for a touchdown in the same game since 2000. Michigan's Steve Breaston (2006; vs. Indiana) and Wisconsin's Brandon Williams (2005; vs. Indiana) were the others to accomplish the feat.
Dotson is averaging 21.0 yards per punt return this season, ranking second all-time at Penn State. Since 2000, Dotson is one of six FBS players (seven occasions) to total at least 695 receiving yards and average 21.0 yards per punt return. Dotson has an 18.4 career punt return average on 10 returns.
Fries, a second team All-Big Ten selection (coaches) has started all eight games on the Nittany Lion offensive line this season (41 career starts). 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.
Penn State's 2020 All-Big Ten honorees are below.
Offense
Big Ten Tight End of the Year: Pat Freiermuth
First Team All-Big Ten: Pat Freiermuth (Coaches)
Second Team All-Big Ten: Pat Freiermuth (Media)
Will Fries (Coaches)
Mike Miranda (Coaches & Media)
Third Team All-Big Ten: Jahan Dotson (Coaches & Media)
Michal Menet (Coaches & Media)
Rasheed Walker (Media)
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten: Will Fries (Media)
Rasheed Walker (Coaches)
Defense
First Team All-Big Ten: Jayson Oweh (Coaches)
Shaka Toney (Coaches & Media)
Second Team All-Big Ten: Jayson Oweh (Media)
Third Team All-Big Ten: Jaquan Brisker (Coaches)
Joey Porter Jr. (Media)
Lamont Wade (Media)
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten: Jaquan Brisker (Media)
Tariq Castro-Fields (Coaches & Media)
PJ Mustipher (Coaches & Media)
Joey Porter Jr. (Coaches)
Antonio Shelton (Coaches & Media)
Brandon Smith (Coaches & Media)
Lamont Wade (Coaches)
Special Teams
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten: Jahan Dotson (Coaches & Media)
Other
Sportsmanship Award: Will Fries
The 2020 Penn State Football Season is presented by PSECU.
