Porter Leads All-Big Ten Defense and Special Teams Selections

 

 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media on Tuesday. Porter led 13 All-Big Ten selections on defense and special teams. All-Big Ten offensive honors will be announced on Wednesday.

 

Joining Porter as All-Big Ten selections were LB Abdul Carter (second team), DT PJ Mustipher (second team), KR Nicholas Singleton (second team), S Ji’Ayir Brown (third team), DE Adisa Isaac (third team), CB Kalen King (third team), P Barney Amor (honorable mention), CB Johnny Dixon (honorable mention), LB Curtis Jacobs (honorable mention), K Jake Pinegar (honorable mention), DE Chop Robinson (honorable mention) and DE Nick Tarburton (honorable mention).

 

LS Chris Stoll was honored with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

 

Joey Porter Jr. · R-Jr. · CB · 6-2 · 194 · Bakersfield, Calif. · North Allegheny (Pa.)

First Team [Coaches]

First Team [Media]

·         Porter has played in 34 career games with the Nittany Lions and has made 30 starts.

·         Was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2021 and by the media in 2020.

·         Has collected 114 tackles (87 solo), two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and 20 pass breakups as a Nittany Lion.

·         He is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award.

·         In man coverage, Porter has allowed just 9 catches in 26 targets (34.6%) and 70 yards.

·         Porter is allowing a 42.3 completion percentage when targeted.

·         Porter Jr. is tied 21st in the nation with 11 pass breakups.

·         Porter tallied a career-high six pass breakups against Purdue, earning Bednarik Award National Player of the Week honors.

·         Porter’s six pass breakups vs. the Boilermakers set a school record and tied a Big Ten single-game record. He matched Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis (vs. Michigan State, 2015) and Minnesota’s Michael Carter (vs. Purdue, 2012).

·         Porter’s six pass breakups are tied for the most in a single game for an FBS player since Houston’s William Jackson III had seven against Temple in 2015.

·         He made a team-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble against the Boilermakers.

·         He recorded five tackles and three pass breakups vs. Central Michigan.

·         Porter had one pass breakup in each game against Northwestern and Minnesota.

 

PJ Mustipher · Sr.+ · DT · 6-4 · 318 · Owings Mills, Md. · McDonogh School

Second Team [Coaches]

Third Team [Media]

·         Has appeared in 52 career games and made 28 starts as a Nittany Lion.

·         Mustipher is a two-year team captain.

·         Was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2021 and was honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2020.

·         In his Penn State career, Mustipher owns 141 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup.

·         Mustipher began the season on watch lists for the Comeback Player of the Year Award, Rotary Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy.

·         He is also on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.

·         The senior led Penn State with six tackles (three solo) against Central Michigan and eight tackles (four solo) vs. Northwestern. He added a half-tackle for loss against the Wildcats.

·         Mustipher tallied six stops at Michigan and five against Michigan State.

·         Mustipher had a half-tackle for loss at Auburn.

 

Abdul Carter · Fr. · LB · 6-3 · 233 · Philadelphia, Pa. · La Salle College

Second Team [Media]

Third Team [Coaches]

·         Has played in all 12 games this season, making six starts.

·         Is a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.

·         Was an On3 Midseason Freshman All-American.

·         Tied for the lead among FBS freshmen in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5).

·         Carter paces Power Five freshmen in tackles for loss and is tied for the lead in sacks.

·         He leads the Nittany Lions in tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles (2), while ranking second in total tackles (48).

·         Since 2000, Carter and Dan Connor (15 TFL, 6.5 sacks; 2007) are the only Penn State linebackers to put up 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season and Carter and Deion Barnes (10 TFL, 6 sacks; 2012) are the only Penn State freshman with 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season.

·         He has registered five or more tackles in seven games this season.

·         Carter made a six stops (all solo) at Auburn, tying for the team lead. Carter added his first career sack, and tackle for loss, and forced a fumble in the second quarter, his first career forced fumble.

·         Making his first career start, Carter collected a career-best eight tackles against Minnesota.

·         Carter had four tackles and a solo sack vs. Ohio State.

·         Carter tallied seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and two QB hurries against Maryland.

·         The freshman collected two tackles for loss, including a solo sack, at Rutgers.

·         Carter registered career highs with three tackles for loss and two sacks against Michigan State. He tied for the team lead with seven tackles.

·         Carter has at least a half-sack in five of his last six games and at least a half-tackle for loss in seven of his last eight games.

 

Nicholas Singleton · Fr. · KR · 6-0 · 219 · Shillington, Pa. · Governor Mifflin

Second Team [Media]

Honorable Mention [Coaches]

·         Is averaging 25.8 yards per return on 12 kick returns this season.

·         His 25.8 kick return average is tied 19th in a season at Penn State (min. 10 returns).

·         Singleton scored on a 100-yard kickoff return at Rutgers, tied for the second-longest kick return touchdown in program history.

·         Singleton had PSU’s first kickoff return touchdown since Lamont Wade (100 yards) against Illinois in 2020.

• It was PSU’s third kickoff return of 100 or more yards, joining Wade and Chaz Powell (100 yards vs. Youngstown State, 2010).
• The freshman owns six returns of 20 or more yards in 2022.
• Against Purdue, Singleton had returns of 25 and 20 yards.
• Singleton recorded a 30-yard return at Auburn.
• He notched a pair of 20-yard returns against Ohio.

·         Singleton ranks seventh in the Big Ten and second among FBS freshmen averaging 111.3 all-purpose yards per game.

 

Ji’Ayir Brown · Sr.+ · S · 5-11 · 202 · Trenton, N.J. · Trenton Central/Lackawanna College

Third Team [Coaches]

Third Team [Media]

·         Has appeared in 34 career games, including 25 starts, as a Nittany Lion.

·         Voted a team captain in 2022.

·         Was named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2021.

·         Began the season on the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award.

·         Has collected 145 tackles (116 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and nine pass breakups in his Penn State career.

·         Brown has had a hand in 15 takeaways as a Nittany Lion (nine interceptions, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries).

·         Since 2000, Brown has the third most career interception return yards (204) at Penn State, trailing only Alan Zemaitis (269; 2003-05) and Anthony Scirrotto (234; 2005-08).

·         Earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after collecting five tackles (four solo), a solo sack, a forced fumble and an interception at Auburn. The strip-sack, in the third quarter, was his first career sack and second career forced fumble. The captain added an interception, returning it 27 yards.

·         Brown was named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance at Auburn.

·         He intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards against Northwestern. He also had a solo tackle for loss against the Wildcats to go with six tackles (five solo).

·         Brown notched a team-high nine tackles (seven solo) at Michigan, including a solo tackle for loss. He had seven tackles in the first quarter.

·         He had seven tackles and an interception, returned 35 yards, against Minnesota.

·         Brown had a team-high eight tackles vs. Ohio State. He added a solo sack at Indiana and another solo sack vs. Maryland.

·         He recovered a fumble and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown at Rutgers.

·         Brown forced a fumble on a punt return and tied for the team high with seven tackles against Michigan State.

 

Kalen King · So. · CB · 5-11 · 189 · Detroit, Mich. · Cass Tech

Third Team [Coaches]

Third Team [Media]

·         Has started eight games at cornerback this season.

·         King is tied for the nation’s lead with 18 pass breakups. He also has two interceptions.

·         He also has 27 tackles, including three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

·         According to Pro Football Focus, he is the No. 3 graded cover corner in the country and second among Power Five players.

·         King is allowing a 44.7 completion percentage when targeted, according to Coaches By The Numbers.

·         The sophomore broke up a career-high five passes and grabbed his second interception of the season against Michigan State. He added a tackle for loss.

·         King forced and recovered a fumble against Central Michigan, his second career forced fumble and first recovery. He also broke up four passes.

·         King recorded his first career interception at Indiana.

·         He had two pass breakups against Maryland.

·         King registered a solo tackle for loss in the third quarter at Michigan and notched a solo tackle for loss, plus a pass breakup, vs. Ohio State.

 

Adisa Isaac · R-Jr. · DE · 6-4 · 243 · Brooklyn, N.Y. · Canarsie

Third Team [Coaches]

Honorable Mention [Media]

·         Has appeared in 32 career games, including 12 starts, as a Nittany Lion.

·         He leads the defensive line with nine tackles for loss and is tied for the defensive line-lead with four sacks this year. Also has eight quarterback hurries.

·         Is on the Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list.

·         Isaac recorded a career-high three tackles for loss, including a solo sack, at Auburn.

·         The sophomore collected two tackles for loss, on back-to-back plays in the first quarter, at Indiana. Tallied a solo sack.

·         Posted a career-high five tackles vs. Minnesota.

·         Isaac had four tackles, including one for loss, against Maryland.

• Isaac recorded a solo sack against Michigan State.

 

Curtis Jacobs · So. · LB · 6-1 · 227 · Glen Burnie, Md. · McDonogh School

Honorable Mention [Coaches]

Honorable Mention [Media]

·         Jacobs has played in 32 career games and made 22 starts.

·         Was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media in 2021.

·         Jacobs has tallied 47 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this season.

·         The Maryland native recorded a 47-yard pick-six in the second quarter at Michigan. It was his second career interception and first career pick-six.

• Jacobs tied a career high with two tackles for loss at Rutgers, including a strip-sack for his first career forced fumble.

·         The sophomore registered a career-high 14 tackles (7 solo) and two tackles for loss vs. Minnesota.

·         Jacobs collected three tackles, including a solo sack, at Auburn.

 

Chop Robinson · So. · DE · 6-3 · 239 · Gaithersburg, Md. · Quince Orchard

Honorable Mention [Coaches]

Honorable Mention [Media]

·         Has appeared in all 12 games this season.

·         Robinson has recorded 23 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and is tied for the defensive line lead with four sacks.

·         At Auburn, Robinson recorded his first sack as a Nittany Lion with a strip-sack in the second quarter. Robinson also recovered a fumble in the third quarter.

·         The sophomore notched a career-high two sacks and had three solo tackles against Maryland.

·         Robinson had two tackles for loss, including a solo sack, at Indiana.

·         Against Michigan, Robinson notched a career-best five tackles (four solo) and had a key pass breakup, which resulted in Curtis Jacobs’ 47-yard pick-six.

·         Robinson collected two tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Ohio.

 

Barney Amor · R-Sr.+ · P · 6-1 · 192 · Doylestown, Pa. · Central Bucks

Honorable Mention Coaches

·         Was awarded a scholarship during preseason camp.

·         The redshirt senior is a member of the Ray Guy Award watch list.

·         Has placed 20 of his 50 punts inside the 20 (40 percent), ranking 22nd in the country, and is third in the nation in percentage of punts inside the 10 (26 percent).

·         He’s tied fourth in the nation in total punts inside the 10 (13), has 20 punts inside the 20 and has 15 punts of 50+ yards.

·         His 44.1 punt average is the second-best in a season at PSU.

·         Amor was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after placing four of his five punts inside the 20 against Northwestern, including three punts inside the 10.

·         He landed three punts inside the 10 against Central Michigan and three inside the 20 (two inside the 10) at Purdue.

·         Amor averaged 50 yards per punt (four punts) vs. Michigan State.

 

Johnny Dixon · Jr. · CB · 6-0 · 190 · Tampa, Fla. · Chamberlain

Honorable Mention [Media]

·         Dixon has appeared in 24 games at Penn State, including five starts at cornerback.

·         Has tallied nine pass breakups and two interceptions to go with 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

·         Dixon is tied 56th in the nation with nine pass breakups.

·         The junior is allowing a 33.3 completion percentage when targeted, according to coaches by the numbers.

·         Dixon intercepted a pass in the second quarter and tallied three pass breakups against Central Michigan.

·         Dixon recorded his second interception of the season at Rutgers.

·         He registered his first career sack and broke up two passes at Purdue.

·         Dixon posted a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss and a solo sack against Ohio.

·         Dixon notched a solo sack and forced a fumble against the Buckeyes.

 

Jake Pinegar · R-Sr. · K · 6-2 · 199 · Ankeny, Iowa · Ankeny Centennial

Honorable Mention [Media]

·         Has appeared in 49 career games at Penn State.

·         Pinegar holds the all-time record at Penn State with 190 career extra points and sits ninth in career extra point percentage (96.4). He ranks fourth in Big Ten history with 190 extra points.

·         Pinegar is seventh all-time at Penn State with a 73.1 field goal percentage. He’s also fourth in field goal attempts (67) and field goals made (49).

·         The Iowa native is also second on the all-time scoring list with 337 career points. He has 15 career field goals of 40+ yards.

·         Pinegar’s 52 extra points in 2022 rank eighth in a season at Penn State.

·         Was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after tallying 12 points, including field goals of 50, 46 and 21 yards, against Maryland.

·         Pinegar hit a career-long 50-yard field goal and made six extra points at Indiana.

·         Against Rutgers, Pinegar converted six extra points to move past Kevin Kelly (183; 2005-08) for the all-time record at PSU.

 

Nick Tarburton · R-Sr. · DE · 6-3 · 258 · Green Lane, Pa. · Pennridge

Honorable Mention [Coaches]

·         Has appeared in 34 career games, making 20 starts, at Penn State.

·         Owns 18 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2022. Has also recorded a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

·         Tarburton had a strip-sack late in the second quarter vs. Northwestern, earning his first career forced fumble.

·         Tarburton also recovered a fumble vs. Northwestern, his second career fumble recovery.

·         The senior registered a career-high two tackles for loss at Indiana, both in the first quarter, including a solo sack.

·         Tarburton collected 1.5 tackles for loss at Rutgers.

 

Chris Stoll · R-Sr.+ · LS · 6-2 · 255 · Westerville, Ohio · St. Francis DeSales

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award

• Stoll is one of three finalists for the Patrick Mannelly Award, recognizing the nation’s top long snapper.
• Stoll is in his fourth season as Penn State’s primary long snapper.
• He has appeared in 46 career games and is serving as a team captain.
• Stoll has helped the punt unit to rank 25th in the FBS with a 40.58 net punting average.
• Has helped Jake Pinegar to convert 12 field goals this season, including two 50-yard field goals and four 40-yard field goals.
• Has aided Barney Amor to average 44.1 yards per punt, the second-highest average in a season at Penn State.
• Has also helped Amor to land 20 punts inside the 20 and 13 inside the 10 as well as hit 15 punts of 50+ yards.
• Has helped Amor and Pinegar to each win a Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honor.

 

No. 8/7 Penn State finished the regular season with a 35-16 win over 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 25th time and reached 10 wins in the regular season for the 20th time.

 

With Saturday’s win, Penn State reached 10+ wins for the fourth time in the James Franklin era and earned seven Big Ten wins for the seventh time in program history.