ROSEMONT, Ill.- Three Penn State men's lacrosse players were named Big Ten Players to Watch for the 2023 season by the conference on Thursday. Jack Traynor, TJ Malone, and Kevin Parnham were the three Nittany Lions named to the Players to Watch list.
Traynor currently serving as one of the team captains, played in six games last season and finished with 23 points off 14 goals and nine assists. He also tallied six ground balls and two caused turnovers. He scored at least on goal in five of his six games played including a season-high four goals three times. In his career as a Nittany Lion, Traynor has compiled 42 goals and 17 assists for 59 points.
Fellow graduate student TJ Malone missed his senior season due to injury. In his career he's tallied 71 goals and 31 assists for 102 points. He's also picked up 38 ground balls in his tenure.
Sophomore Kevin Parnham started in all 14 games at defense and finished with 38 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers where he led the team. He also led the Nittany Lions in ground balls among non-faceoff players. He tallied three or more ground balls eight times including a season-high five against Lafayette on February 1, 2022.
The Big Ten also released their preseason poll on Thursday in which the Nittany Lions were picked to finish fifth. Penn State begins the 2023 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. against Lafayette in Holuba Hall.
2023 BIG TEN MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
1. Maryland
2. Ohio State
3. Rutgers
4. Johns Hopkins
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
2023 BIG TEN MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Garrett Degnon, Gr., Johns Hopkins
Scott Smith, Jr., Johns Hopkins
Brendan Grimes, Jr., Johns Hopkins
Brett Makar, Gr., Maryland
Logan McNaney, Sr., Maryland
Luke Wierman, Sr., Maryland
Ryan Coher, So; Michigan
Ryan Schriber, Sr.; Michigan
Justin Brown, Jr., Michigan
Jack Myers, Sr., Ohio State
Marcus Hudgens, Sr., Ohio State
Bobby Van Buren, So., Ohio State
Jack Traynor, Gr., Penn State
TJ Malone, Gr., Penn State
Kevin Parnham, So., Penn State
Ethan Rall, Sr., Rutgers
Ross Scott, Sr., Rutgers
Shane Knobloch, Jr., Rutgers
