UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has been named the Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday. Additionally, Carter took home the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year while Tyler Warren was named the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year.
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year
Smith-Brown Defensive Player of the Year
First-Team All-Big Ten [Coaches & Media]
- Carter is a finalist for the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
- Carter owns 158 tackles (94 solo), 35.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, five forced fumbles, an interception and 12 pass breakups in his third season in Happy Valley.
- His 35.5 tackles for loss are 13th all-time at PSU, while his 21.0 sacks are tied seventh all-time at Penn State.
- He has eight career games with 2+ tackles for loss, five this season, and six games with 2+ sacks.
- Carter's 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks both rank 13th in a season at PSU.
- He is the first Nittany Lion with 10+ sacks in a season since Carl Nassib's 15.5 in 2015.
- Carter sits third in the FBS (1st in Power Four) with 19.5 tackles for loss this season, and is 11th nationally (2nd in B1G) with 10 sacks.
Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year
First-Team All-Big Ten [Coaches & Media]
- A Mackey Award and Paul Hornung Award finalist and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award semifinalist, owns 130 receptions for 1,584 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding six rushing scores and a passing touchdown, in his career. Warren has 22 career receptions of 20+ yards and five career 100-yard games.
- Warren was named Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year and was voted first-team All-Big Ten.
- Against UCLA, Warren tallied his 17th total touchdown to pass Freiermuth for the most total touchdowns (16) among Penn State tight ends. He has 23 career total touchdowns (17 receiving, 6 rushing).
- Against Washington, Warren set Penn State tight end season records for receptions and receiving yards, bettering Mike Gesicki's 57 receptions for 679 yards in 2017. Warren has 81 catches for 978 yards this season.
- Against Minnesota, Warren broke the PSU tight end career receiving yards record, bettering Gesicki's 1,414 yards. Warren has 1,584 career receiving yards.
- On a 20-yard catch in the first quarter against Maryland, Warren broke a tie with Wisconsin's Travis Beckum (75: 2007) for the Big Ten tight end season receptions record. Warren has 81 receptions this season.
- Against Maryland, on a 7-yard touchdown reception, Warren broke a tie with Pat Freiermuth (16; 2018-20) for the Penn State tight end career receiving touchdowns record. Warren has 17 career receiving touchdowns, good for eighth all-time at PSU.
- On a 9-yard catch in the third quarter against Maryland, Warren set the Penn State tight ends career receptions record, previously held by Mike Gesicki (129; 2014-17). Warren has 130 career receptions, sitting 11th all-time at PSU.
- Warren's 978 yards are four away from Beckum's receiving yards record (982; 2007).
- With five career 100-yard receiving games, Warren has the most by a Penn State tight end, breaking a tie with Ted Kwalick (4; 1966-68).
- Warren is one of four FBS tight ends (only Big Ten) with 130+ receptions, 1,500+ receiving yards and 17+ touchdown receptions in his career.
- Penn State is one of seven FBS schools with three tight ends (Freiermuth, Gesicki, Warren) notching 90+ receptions, 1,100+ receiving yards and 15+ receiving touchdowns in their career.
- Among active FBS tight ends, Warren is tied for fourth in career touchdown receptions (17; 1st B1G), while sitting fifth among FBS tight ends in career receptions (130; 1st) and fifth in career receiving yards (1,584; 1st). He's also fourth among active FBS tight ends, averaging 12.2 yards per reception (minimum 130 receptions) and tied for second in total touchdowns (23).
- Warren is one of three Big Ten players with 17+ receiving touchdowns and 6+ rushing touchdowns in their career.
- He currently has a 28-game reception streak and has at least one 14-yard catch in each of his last 18 games.
- He has 81 receptions for 978 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, while adding four rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown. He has 15 catches of 20+ yards and three 20+ yard rushes.
- Warren has four 100-yard receiving games this season, most by a PSU tight end, and most by any PSU player since Jahan Dotson's five in 2021.
Second-Team All-Big Ten [Coaches & Media]
- Has played in 40 games and started 21 at Penn State.
- Was voted a captain for the 2024 season.
- King was named to the Butkus Award watch list in the preseason.
- He owns 165 tackles (93 solo), 17.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups as a Nittany Lion.
Second-Team All-Big Ten [Coaches & Media]
- The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten and are seventh nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.9 per game).
- Penn State did not allow a sack against West Virginia, USC, Washington, Purdue or Maryland.
- Ioane has made 17 career starts in 29 appearances.
Second-Team All-Big Ten [Coaches & Media]
- Reed has played in 46 contests and started 25 games.
- He has tallied 158 tackles (102 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, five interceptions (one touchdown) and six pass breakups at PSU.
- Reed was a Midseason All-American selection by the Associated Press (2nd team) and the Reese's Senior Bowl.
A.J. Harris
Third-Team All-Big Ten [Coaches & Media]
- Has 40 tackles, including 22 solo, three tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups in his career.
- Recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter against Illinois, while adding four tackles and a pass breakup.
- Harris notched his first career tackle for loss at USC among three stops.
- Against Washington, he had a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
- The Alabama native recorded a solo tackle for loss and tied a career high with five tackles at Minnesota.
Third-Team All-Big Ten [Media], Honorable Mention [Coaches]
- Has started 38 games in 42 appearances.
- The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten and are seventh nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.9 per game).
- Penn State did not allow a sack against West Virginia, USC, Washington, Purdue or Maryland.
Third-Team All-Big Ten [Media], Honorable Mention [Coaches]
- Has appeared in 32 career games.
- Is a member of the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list.
All-Big Ten [Offense Honorable Mention]
Drew Allar: Honorable Mention [Coaches & Media]
Kaytron Allen: Honorable Mention [Media]
Nick Dawkins: Honorable Mention [Media]
Anthony Donkoh: Honorable Mention [Coaches & Media]
Drew Shelton: Honorable Mention [Coaches & Media]
Nicholas Singleton: Honorable Mention [Coaches & Media]
Harrison Wallace III: Honorable Mention [Media]
All-Big Ten [Defense Honorable Mention]
Zane Durant: Honorable Mention [Coaches & Media]
Dani Dennis-Sutton: Honorable Mention [Media]
Dvon J-Thomas: Honorable Mention [Media]
Jalen Kimber: Honorable Mention [Media]
Tony Rojas: Honorable Mention [Coaches]
Zakee Wheatley: Honorable Mention [Media]
All-Big Ten [Special Teams Honorable Mention]
Ryan Barker: Honorable Mention [Coaches & Media]
Nicholas Singleton: Honorable Mention [Media]
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2024 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit https://gopsusports.com/tickets, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.