UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State redshirt senior punter Jordan Stout was named the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Stout was one of 12 Nittany Lions earning All-Big Ten recognition on either defense or special teams. Joining Stout as first team honorees were senior safety Jaquan Brisker and redshirt senior defensive end Arnold Ebiketie.
Stout becomes the first ever Penn State player to win the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year award. Overall, he is Penn State's 36th major award winner for conference awards and the 10th in the James Franklin era. Stout is additionally Penn State's first special teamer to be a first team selection since Saquon Barkley (return specialist) in 2017.
On defense, the Nittany Lions have two first team selections for the fourth consecutive year. With Ebiketie's first team honor, it marks the fourth consecutive season Penn State has had a defensive end on the first team. Brisker becomes the first defensive back to earn first team laurels since Amani Oruwariye in 2018.
All-Big Ten honorees on the offensive side of the ball will be announced on Wednesday.
Penn State's All-Big Ten honorees are listed below.
P Jordan Stout
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year
First Team Punter (Coaches and Media)
Honorable Mention Kicker (Media)
- Stout is a Ray Guy Award finalist and has been named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week twice this season and Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week four times.
- Among the three Ray Guy Award finalists, according to Pro Football Focus, Stout is the highest graded punter (93.1), and leads in fewest punt return yards allowed (33), fewest punt return yards allowed per attempt (2.4) and highest average hang time (4.36).
- He is the second specialist in Big Ten history to earn Special Teams Player of the Week in a season four times. Purdue's Travis Dorsch (4) in 2001 was the other. Dorsch went on to win the Ray Guy Award in 2001.
- He leads the country in PFF punting grade (93.1) and average hang time (4.36) and is second in net punting (45.08).
- He owns Penn State's best career punt average (44.81), leading by 1.68 yards per punt, while also holding Penn State's highest season punt average (46.55)
- Stout, who has 28 career punts of 50+ yards, has averaged at least 50.0 yards per punt in five games this season and 25 of his 62 punts this season have been 50 or more yards.
- Stout has landed 34 punts inside the 20, including a career-high six against Illinois and Rutgers, 18 inside the 10 and six inside the 5.
- At Michigan State, all three of Stout's punts landed inside the 7-yard line (2 landed at the 7, 1 landed at the 1). The average drive start on Stout's punts was MSU's own 5-yard line.
- Stout knocked five punts inside the 10 against Rutgers and six of his eight punts inside the 20. He hit two punts of 50+ yards as he earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
- With Stout handling kickoff and punting duties, Rutgers average drive start for the entire game was its own 18-yard line. The Scarlet Knights best drive start was their own 33.
- Stout landed all four punts against Michigan inside the 20 and hit two 50+ yard punts to earn Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Stout also completed an 18-yard pass to Curtis Jacobs on a fake punt and converted three field goals against the Wolverines, including a 52-yard kick in the second quarter, to tie his career high for field goals made in a game.
- At Ohio State, Stout hit a pair of 55-yard punts, landing one inside the 20, while also hitting a 47-yard field goal against the Buckeyes to close out the first half.
- He was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week after his performance against Illinois, where he hit four punts of 50+ yards and dropped six inside the 20.
- Stout also converted a career-high-tying three field goal attempts against the Illini.
- Against Indiana, Stout averaged 46.3 yards on six punts. He hit 51- and 50- yard punts and landed four inside the 20, including one inside the 10.
- Stout also hit a 50-yard field goal against the Hoosiers, as he earned Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Against Auburn, Stout averaged 50.0 yards per punt with two over 50 yards and one downed inside the 20.
- In the Ball State win, Stout hit three field goals against the Cardinals, inducing a 45-yarder.
- Stout earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career after averaging 53.9 yards on seven punt attempts against Wisconsin. Stout hit five punts of 50-plus yards, including a 76-yarder.
- The 53.9 punt average ranks second-best in a game at Penn State behind only Ralph Giacomarro (54.75; 1981 at Syracuse), while the 76-yard punt is the longest of Stout's career and tied for third-longest in program history.
S Jaquan Brisker
First Team Defensive Back (Coaches and Media)
- Brisker, a midseason All-American first team honoree by the Associated Press, ESPN and The Athletic (first team), was tabbed a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe and Bednarik Awards.
- The captain, who has accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl, has at least a half tackle for loss in eight of 12 games this season.
- Brisker's 5.5 tackles for loss this season are tied for second among Big Ten defensive backs.
- Since 2000, Brisker is just one of three Penn State defensive backs to record at least 5.5 tackles for loss in a season.
- Against Wisconsin, two Lackawanna College alums played a big role. Brisker and senior S Ji'Ayir Brown each recorded interceptions in the closing minutes to seal the victory.
- Brisker's interception stopped a Wisconsin drive inside the Penn State 10. He returned the interception 41 yards.
- He added a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against the Badgers.
- Brisker recorded an interception in the first quarter against Iowa while making a career-high-tying nine tackles (7 solo).
- The senior recorded a takeaway in his second-straight game, recovering a fumble against Illinois while making eight tackles (7 solo).
- In the win at Maryland, he contributed seven tackles (6 solo) and a tackle for loss.
- Brisker had five tackles and a tackle for loss vs. Michigan and a team-high seven tackles and a pass breakup against Rutgers.
- A native of Pittsburgh, Brisker made eight tackles at Michigan State, marking his third game this season making eight or more tackles.
DE Arnold Ebiketie
First Team Defensive Lineman (Coaches and Media)
- Ebiketie, a final watch lister for the Ted Hendricks Award, joined the Nittany Lions after a four-year stint at Temple (2017-20).
- At the conclusion of the regular season, 14.5 of Ebiketie's Big Ten-leading 17.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 of his 9.5 sacks (3rd in the Big Ten) have come against Big Ten opponents (nine games).
- The Silver Spring, Md. Native, who has at least one tackle for loss in eight-straight games, ranks fourth among Power Five players in tackles for loss and ninth in sacks.
- He is second among Power Five defensive linemen in tackles for loss and tackles and tied for seventh in sacks.
- The defensive end, who has accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl, was named a Midseason All-America First Team honoree by The Athletic.
- He had an impressive Penn State debut with seven solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while also adding a blocked field goal against Wisconsin.
- Ebiketie's sack against the Badgers came at a crucial moment of the game, with the Badgers facing 2nd-and-10 at the PSU 25 late in the fourth quarter. He recorded a 7-yard sack and forced an intentional grounding
- penalty.
- The redshirt senior recorded a solo sack against Indiana and blocked his second field goal of the season, a 30-yard attempt, becoming the first Penn State player with two blocked field goals in a season since Scott Paxson in 2004.
- Born in Yaounde, Cameroon, Ebiketie tied a career best with 3.5 tackles for loss at Iowa and had nine tackles.
- In the Illinois contest, he recorded a season-high 10 tackles, matching his career best and the most by a Penn State defensive end since Yetur Gross-Matos recorded 10 at Indiana in 2018, while also adding 1.5 sacks.
- Ebiketie tallied two sacks against Michigan, including a forced a fumble on a strip-sack in the fourth quarter.
- He followed that up with 1.5 tackles for loss and a strip-sack vs. Rutgers, marking his fifth career forced fumble and second at Penn State.
- His streak of games with a tackle for loss was extended to eight at Michigan State, where he also added a pass breakup.
LB Ellis Brooks
Second Team Linebacker (Coaches)
Honorable Mention Linebacker (Media)
- Brooks, a redshirt senior and veteran in the group, has appeared in 40 career games, making 20 starts.
- Brooks owns 100 tackles (53 solo) this season, becoming the 23rd different linebacker in Penn State history to reach the 100-tackle mark in a season.
- Brooks' 100 tackles (5th in the Big Ten, T-15th among Power Five players) are the most by a Penn State player through the first 12 games of a season since Mike Hull in 2014 (132).
- He paced the Nittany Lions with 11 tackles, eight solo, against Wisconsin, while adding a solo sack in the first quarter.
- In the Iowa contest, Brooks recorded 14 tackles (eight solo) and followed it up with 11 tackles against Illinois.
- Brooks made a career-high 16 stops vs. Michigan, his fifth career double-digit tackle game and fourth this season.
- With the 16-tackle effort against Michigan, Brooks became the first PSU player with 16+ tackles in a game since Brandon Bell's 18 against Michigan State in 2016.
- Following a nine-tackle effort against Michigan State, Brooks has made 230 career stops.
DT PJ Mustipher
Second Team Defensive Lineman (Coaches)
Honorable Mention Defensive Lineman (Media)
- Mustipher, a senior and team captain, anchors the Nittany Lion defensive line room, having appeared in 40 career games and making 16 starts. In his Penn State career, Mustipher owns 107 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks.
- Despite suffering a season-ending injury at Iowa on Oct. 9, Mustipher was named a 2021 All-Big Ten second team selection by the coaches.
- Mustipher was a 2021 semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award, a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and was on the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list.
- The senior had a defensive line-high seven tackles at Wisconsin, recorded a sack against Villanova and tallied six tackles and a tackle for loss against Indiana.
S Ji'Ayir Brown
Third Team Defensive Back (Coaches)
Honorable Mention Defensive Back (Media)
- Brown leads the Nittany Lion secondary with four interceptions (T-3rd in the Big Ten, T-11th nationally) this season are the most by a PSU player since Amani Oruwariye had four in 2017.
- The senior has a hand in six takeaways this season (four interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
- He is the first Nittany Lion with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season since current assistant recruiting coordinator Alan Zemaitis in 2005 (six interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
- Brown made his first start against Wisconsin and tallied his first interception as a Nittany Lion as time expired to secure the road win over the Badgers.
- The safety picked off a pass in the third quarter against Villanova, while adding a tackle for loss, and also intercepted a pass the following week against Indiana.
- He made a career-high, and team-best, 13 tackles (11 solo) against Illinois.
- Brown forced and recovered a fumble at Ohio State, his first career forced fumble and recovery.
- He had a hand in two takeaways at Maryland, recovering a fumble and recording an 87-yard pick-six to help seal the victory.
- The 87-yard interception return marked the fifth-longest interception return in school history.
CB Joey Porter Jr.
Third Team Defensive Back (Coaches)
Honorable Mention Defensive Back (Media)
- Porter a made six tackles against Wisconsin and made a key pass breakup on third down before an interception by S Jaquan Brisker.
- Porter made six stops (4 solo), had a pass breakup and recorded his first career forced fumble in the fourth quarter against Auburn.
- Two weeks later, he grabbed his first career interception against Indiana.
- Porter recorded a career-high nine tackles (8 solo) against Illinois and broke up a pass.
LB Brandon Smith
Third Team Linebacker (Coaches)
Honorable Mention Linebacker (Media)
- Smith, who was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, was named an All-Big Ten third team honoree by the coaches.
- He is second on the team in tackles (81) and tackles for loss (9), and is tied for third in pass breakups (5).
- Following the Auburn win, Smith was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career-high 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
- Smith had a team-high nine tackles and a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss at Maryland.
- The junior forced a fumble on a sack in the second quarter against Illinois, marking his first career forced fumble and fourth career sack.
- Smith matched a career high with 10 tackles vs. Michigan.
DE Jesse Luketa
Third Team Defensive Lineman (Media)
Honorable Mention Defensive Lineman (Coaches)
- Luketa, who made the switch from linebacker to defensive end in the offseason, has appeared in 46 career games at Penn State, making 17 starts.
- An All-Big Ten third team honoree and upcoming Reese's Senior Bowl attendee, he is third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and has five quarterback hurries.
- Luketa tallied a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss at Iowa and added 1.5 for loss at Michigan State.
- The senior was named the Pro Football Focus National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance vs. Ball State after recording his first career interception against the Cardinals, returning it 16 yards for a touchdown.
PR Jahan Dotson
Third Team Return Specialist (Coaches)
Honorable Mention Return Specialist (Media)
- Dotson averaged 24.6 yards per punt return in 2020, ranking first all-time at Penn State.
- Dotson's 13.5 career punt return average (25 returns) is eighth all-time at Penn State and is the sixth-best among current FBS players with at least 20 returns.
- Dotson returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State in 2020.
CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Honorable Mention Defensive Back (Coaches and Media)
- A three-time All-Big Ten honoree, Castro-Fields leads the cornerbacks room. He has 138 tackles, three interceptions and 22 pass breakups in his Penn State career.
- The senior had a key pass breakup that resulted in an interception by S Ji'Ayir Brown against Villanova.
- Castro-Fields added a season-high two pass breakups against Indiana.
LB Curtis Jacobs
Honorable Mention Linebacker (Media)
- Jacobs, who earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition, made his first career start at Wisconsin and made five tackles.
- The sophomore, who has played in 19 career games and making 10 starts, posted his first career sack against Ball State.
- Jacobs registered a career-high two tackles for loss and a solo sack at Iowa.
- He followed that up by making a diving catch for his first career interception in the first quarter against Illinois, while making five tackles.
- Jacobs tallied seven tackles and a career-high-tying two tackles for loss at Ohio State.
- He set a career high in tackles with eight at Michigan State to go along with a tackle for loss, his sixth of the season.
The 2021 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.