UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior defensive end Chop Robinson was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media to lead 16 Penn State defensive and special teams players picking up All-Big Ten honors on Tuesday. Sophomore linebacker Abdul Carter was voted first team by the coaches, while senior defensive end Adisa Isaac was selected first team by the media.
Joining Robinson, Carter and Isaac were CB Kalen King (second team), CB/PR Daequan Hardy (second team as return specialist; third team as defensive back), K Alex Felkins (second team), DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (third team), CB Johnny Dixon (third team), DT Zane Durant (honorable mention), DT Dvon Ellies (honorable mention), LB Curtis Jacobs (honorable mention), LB Kobe King (honorable mention), S Jaylen Reed (honorable mention), KR Nicholas Singleton (honorable mention), P Riley Thompson (honorable mention) and S Kevin Winston Jr. (honorable mention).
The Penn State defense leads the country in total defense (223.2), first downs allowed (151), sacks per game (4.0) and total sacks (48), while sitting second in pass defense (153.6), rushing defense (69.7), turnovers gained (24) and tackles for loss per game (8.4). The Nittany Lions are third in the nation in scoring defense (11.4), total tackles for loss (101) and fumbles recovered (12).
Penn State's nation-leading 223.2 total yards allowed per game currently stands as the lowest in a single season in the FBS since Alabama's 183.6 in 2011.
All-Big Ten offensive selections will be announced on Wednesday.
Chop Robinson · Jr. · DE · 6-3 · 254 · Gaithersburg, Md. · Quince Orchard
First Team [Coaches]
First Team [Media]
- Was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022.
- Began the season on the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists.
- According to Pro Football Focus, has a 92.0 pass rush grade this season, sixth-highest among players with over 100 pass rush snaps.
- Owns 60 tackles (43 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in 35 games in his collegiate career.
- In 2023, Robinson has 15 tackles (12 solo), four sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and five QB hurries in 10 games.
- Against Iowa, he made two tackles, including a strip-sack in the third quarter, and posted a 94.1 pass rush grade.
- He tied a career high with two sacks against UMass.
- In the Rutgers game, Robinson tied his career highs with five tackles and two tackles for loss. In the third quarter, he recorded a strip-sack and recovered the fumble.
Abdul Carter · So. · LB · 6-3 · 249 · Philadelphia, Pa. · La Salle College High School
First Team [Coaches]
Second Team [Media]
- Was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media and third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches last season.
- Started the season on watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
- According to Pro Football Focus, has a 23.1 pass rush win percentage, ranking third in the FBS among players with at least 100 pass rush snaps.
- Has tallied 101 tackles (60 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and eight pass breakups in his first two seasons in Happy Valley.
- Carter has notched 45 tackles (24 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, four pass breakups and five QB hurries in 2023.
- Started the 2023 campaign with a solo sack in the fourth quarter against West Virginia.
- Recorded his first career interception against Illinois and posted a career-high nine tackles and a pass breakup at Ohio State.
- Secured a solo sack against Maryland and forced a fumble against Michigan.
- Tied a career high with two sacks at Michigan State.
Adisa Isaac · R-Sr. · DE · 6-4 · 249 · Brooklyn, N.Y. · Canarsie
First Team [Media]
Second Team [Coaches]
- Earned All-Big Ten third team honors from the coaches and honorable mention accolades by the media.
- In his Penn State career, has tallied 90 tackles (46 solo), 30.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
- This season, Isaac owns 35 tackles (22 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four QB hurries.
- Isaac is tied third in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss, while sitting second in sacks per game (0.62) and fourth in tackles for loss per game (1.2).
- He owns seven career games with multiple tackles for loss.
- Over the last two seasons, Isaac's six games with two or more tackles for loss are tied-most in the Big Ten.
- Against Iowa, Isaac notched a solo sack and recovered a fumble.
- He secured a solo sack at Northwestern and recorded career highs with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss against UMass.
- Notched a solo sack and a forced fumble at Maryland and three tackles for loss against Michigan.
- Collected a career-high seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, at Michigan State.
Kalen King · Jr. · CB · 5-11 · 190 · Detroit, Mich. · Cass Tech
Second Team [Coaches]
Second Team [Media]
- Garnered third-team All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and media in 2022.
- Named second-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and third-team All-America by Pro Football Focus last season.
- Began the season on watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award.
- Has helped Penn State to sit second in the country in pass defense (153.6) and ninth in pass efficiency defense (109.34).
- This season, he has helped Penn State to hold four opponents to 60 or less passing yards.
- In his PSU career, King has 82 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 25 pass breakups.
- In 2023, he has 29 tackles (20 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
- The Michigan native recorded four tackles and a pass breakup at Illinois.
- He had six tackles and a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss at Ohio State.
- King registered three tackles and a pass breakup against Indiana.
Daequan Hardy · R-Sr. · CB/PR · 5-9 · 178 · Pittsburgh, Pa. · Penn Hills
Second Team, RS [Coaches]
Second Team, RS [Media]
Third Team, DB [Coaches]
Honorable Mention, DB [Media]
- As a punt returner, Hardy is leading the country with two punt return touchdowns.
- Hardy paces the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the nation with a 14.6 punt return average.
- His 14.6 punt return average ranks 10th in a season at Penn State.
- Hardy also has a 14.6 career punt average, sitting seventh all-time at Penn State.
- On his first career punt return, Hardy had a 56-yard return for a touchdown in the first quarter against UMass. He added a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, becoming the first player in school history to record multiple punt returns for a touchdown in a single game.
- Since 2000, Hardy became the 25th FBS player, and second Big Ten player, to return two punt returns for touchdowns in a game.
- He is tied for the school record for most punt return touchdowns in a season (2), joining Larry Johnson (2001), Bruce Branch (1999), O.J. McDuffie (1991) and Jimmy Cefalo (1977).
- Owns 53 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five interceptions, 20 pass breakups and a forced fumble as a Nittany Lion.
- In 2023, Hardy has 15 tackles (9 solo), three tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
- According to Pro Football Focus, Hardy is allowing a 47.5 completion percentage when targeted and has six forced incompletions.
- At Illinois, he notched an interception in the first quarter.
- He picked off a pass in the fourth quarter against Northwestern and returned it 34 yards for his longest career interception return.
- Hardy broke up a career-high three passes, all in the first quarter, at Ohio State, and added a career-high six tackles and a half-tackle for loss.
- He registered a solo sack against Indiana.
Alex Felkins · Sr. · K · 6-3 · 200 · Tulsa, Okla. · Holland Hall
Second Team [Media]
Third Team [Coaches]
- Felkins has hit 18-of-22 field goal attempts (81.8 percent) and all 45 extra-point attempts.
- He is 10-of-10 on field goals inside of 40 yards and has eight makes from 40+ yards.
- Felkins ranks 19th in the country averaging 1.5 field goals per game and 40th with an 81.8 field goal percentage. He is also 25th in the nation with 99 total points.
- The senior ranks seventh in a season at Penn State with his 81.8 field goal percentage.
- He owns five career games with three field goal makes.
- Felkins has hit four career field goals of 50+ yards, 19 of 40+ yards and is 121-of-125 on extra points. He has 283 career points.
- Felkins converted a 46-yard kick against Iowa and a 47-yard field goal against Northwestern.
- He drilled field goals of 40 and 41 yards at Ohio State, a 50-yard kick at Indiana, a 48-yard field goal vs. Rutgers and a 49-yard kick at Michigan State.
Dani Dennis-Sutton · So. · DE · 6-5 · 261 · Millsboro, Del. · McDonogh School
Third Team [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- Was named an ESPN.com True Freshman All-American in 2022.
- In his first two seasons in Happy Valley, Dennis-Sutton has 40 tackles (26 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.
- Dennis-Sutton has collected 23 tackles (15 solo), six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup in 2023.
- In the Iowa game, he forced a fumble in the first quarter and added a pass breakup.
- At Northwestern, Dennis-Sutton collected 1.5 tackles for loss and a solo sack.
- The Delaware native earned the coaching staff's defensive player of the game award after his performance against Indiana.
- Registered a strip-sack late in the fourth quarter, which resulted in a safety, to go with a career-high six tackles, against the Hoosiers.
- Tied a career high with two tackles for loss and a solo sack against Michigan.
Johnny Dixon · Sr. · CB · 6-0 · 196 · Tampa, Fla. · Chamberlain
Third Team [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- Was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media in 2022.
- Is a member of the Reese's Senior Bowl watch list.
- In his collegiate career, Dixon owns 96 tackles (75 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 20 pass breakups.
- In 2023, Dixon has tallied 26 tackles (20 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and three pass breakups.
- He leads all FBS cornerbacks with 4.5 sacks and ranks second in tackles for loss (5.5).
- Dixon paced FBS cornerbacks with three sacks last season.
- At Illinois, Dixon picked off a pass in the third quarter and returned it 21 yards.
- The Florida native notched five tackles, including a career-high two tackles for loss and a solo sack, and a pass breakup at Ohio State.
- Dixon posted a solo sack in each game against Indiana and Maryland.
- Against Rutgers, he registered a solo sack and a forced fumble.
- Collected a half-sack at Michigan State.
Kobe King · R-So. · LB · 6-1 · 242 · Detroit, Mich. · Cass Tech
Honorable Mention [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- In 2023, King leads Penn State with 54 tackles (34 solo) to go with five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one QB hurry.
- He secured four tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery at Illinois.
- King tallied two tackles for loss and a sack at Northwestern.
- He recorded nine tackles against Michigan.
- King made a career-high 10 stops against Rutgers.
Jaylen Reed · Jr. · S · 6-0 · 205 · Detroit, Mich. · Martin Luther King Jr.
Honorable Mention [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- Reed has collected 44 tackles (30 solo), three tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and a pass breakup in 2023.
- He made his first career start against West Virginia and recorded his first career sack against Delaware.
- Reed had two tackles and a pass breakup vs. Iowa and three tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, at Northwestern.
- He posted five tackles at Ohio State.
- The Detroit native set a career high with eight tackles vs. Indiana, including a solo tackle for loss. He recorded his first career interception in the second quarter and returned it 17 yards.
- The junior allied six tackles against Michigan.
- Reed intercepted a pass to end Michigan State's opening drive.
Kevin Winston Jr. · So. · S · 6-2 · 203 · Columbia, Md. · DeMatha Catholic
Honorable Mention [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- Sits second on the team with 51 tackles (30 solo) to go with 2.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception and four pass breakups.
- Made his first career fumble recovery against Delaware.
- Posted a team-leading five tackles at Northwestern.
- Collected seven tackles at Ohio State.
- He recovered a muffed punt against Indiana.
- Tallied five tackles and a solo tackle for loss at Maryland.
- Winston set a career high with 12 tackles, and assisted on a tackle for loss, vs. Michigan.
- Recorded his first career interception vs. Rutgers and tallied two pass breakups and a tackle for loss at Michigan State.
Nicholas Singleton · So. · KR · 6-0 · 222 · Shillington, Pa. · Governor Mifflin
Honorable Mention [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- Was voted All-Big Ten second team as a return specialist by the media and honorable mention by the coaches in 2022.
- Began the season on watch lists for the Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year.
- He is averaging 25.2 yards on 12 kick returns this season, including eight returns of 20+ yards.
- Singleton had a 51-yard kick return at Maryland and a 50-yard return against Indiana.
- The Pennsylvania native ranks ninth all-time at Penn State with a 25.0 kick return average and has a 100-yard kick return touchdown.
Riley Thompson · Sr. · P · 6-1 · 209 · Melbourne, Australia · Haileybury/Deakin
Honorable Mention [Coaches]
Honorable Mention [Media]
- This season, Thompson is averaging 45.4 yards on 45 punts. He has a long of 56 yards to go with 16 punts inside the 20, eight inside the 10 and 13 punts of 50+ yards.
- Thompson ranks fourth in the Big Ten with his 45.4 punt average, sitting 18th in the FBS.
- Penn State sits ninth in the nation (second in the Big Ten) with a 42.35 net punt average.
- In his career, Thompson is averaging 45.4 yards with 42 punts inside the 20, 14 inside the 10 and 28 punts of 50+ yards.
- He averaged 43.7 yards on a career-high nine punts at Ohio State. Thompson placed four punts inside the 20, two inside the 10 and booted a pair of 50+ yard punts.
- Thompson blasted four punts of 50+ yards and averaged 49.0 yards on six punts against Indiana with two punts inside the 10.
- Against Michigan, he averaged 49.0 yards per punt, blasting three punts of 50+ yards and landed one at the Wolverines' 3.
- He hit a 56-yard punt against Rutgers and two 51-yard punts at Michigan State.
Curtis Jacobs · Jr. · LB · 6-1 · 235 · Glen Burnie, Md. · McDonogh School
Honorable Mention [Coaches]
- Was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2022 and by the media in 2021.
- Was tabbed as one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award.
- Began the season as a member of the Butkus Award and Reese's Senior Bowl watch lists.
- In 2023, Jacobs has tallied 47 tackles (30 solo), eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and five QB hurries.
- Against West Virginia, finished with a team-high 10 tackles (7 solo) and a sack.
- In the Iowa game, recorded a solo tackle for loss and two fumble recoveries. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter and a muffed punt in the second quarter.
- Jacobs is the first Penn State player to recover two fumbles in a game since Mark D'Onofrio against Temple on October 5, 1991.
- Notched a team-high nine tackles at Ohio State.
- Jacobs registered 1.5 tackles for loss in each game against Maryland and Michigan and 1.5 sacks at Michigan State.
Zane Durant · So. · DT · 6-1 · 285 · Lake Nona, Fla. · Lake Nona
Honorable Mention [Media]
- In 12 games, has 16 tackles (11 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one QB hurry this season.
- He posted 1.5 tackles for loss, including a solo sack, against Delaware.
- Secured a career-high three tackles for loss and a solo sack at Northwestern.
- The Florida native became Penn State's first defensive tackle to record three or more tackles for loss against a Big Ten opponent since Curtis Cothran against Wisconsin in 2016.
- He was also Penn State's first defensive tackle for register three or more tackles for loss in a game since Tyrell Chavis against Akron in 2017.
- He notched a solo tackle for loss at Ohio State and recovered a fumble against Maryland.
Dvon Ellies · R-Sr. · DT · 6-1 · 298 · Burtonsville, Md. · McDonogh School
Honorable Mention [Media]
- Has made 11 career starts in 42 appearances as a Nittany Lion.
- Was named to watch lists for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and the Wuerffel Trophy.
- In 2023, Ellies has 22 tackles (11 solo), five tackles for loss and a QB hurry.
- Notched a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss against UMass, while posting a career-high five tackles.
- He assisted on a pair of tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, at Ohio State.
- Ellies made two tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss at Maryland.
- He recorded a half-tackle for loss against Rutgers and a full tackle for loss at Michigan State.
No. 11/10/10 Penn State finished the regular season with a 42-0 win at Michigan State to improve to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten action.
The Nittany Lions reached 10 wins in a season for the 26th time and reached 10 wins in the regular season for the 21st time.
The Nittany Lions reached 10 wins for the fifth time since 2016.
Penn State is one of 11 FBS teams with at least 10 wins in at least five of the last eight seasons, joining Alabama (8), Boise State (6), Clemson (7), Georgia (6), Michigan (6), Notre Dame (5), Ohio State (7), Oklahoma (6), Troy (5) and Washington (5).
Penn State clinched its second-straight 10+ win season, joining Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Troy, Tulane and Washington as teams who have posted 10+ win seasons in 2022 and 2023.
With Friday's win, Penn State reached 10+ wins for the fifth time in the James Franklin era and earned seven Big Ten wins for the eighth time in program history.
The 2023 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.