Big Ten Awards
Big Ten Award Winners at Penn State—
PSU eligible since 1993
Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year (est. 1990/updated 2011)—Kerry Collins QB 1994, Curtis Enis TB 1997 (Coaches selection), Michael Robinson QB 2005 (Coaches selection), Saquon Barkley RB 2016, & Saquon Barkley RB 2017
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year (est. 1990/updated 2011)—LaVar Arrington LB 1998 (Coaches selection), Courtney Brown DE 1999, Michael Haynes DE 2002 (Media selection), Jared Odrick DT 2009 (Coaches selection), Devon Still DT 2011, Carl Nassib DE 2015, & Abdul Carter DE 2024
*Note: Big Ten Player of the Year Award (presented 1982-89 by AP/UPI)—Replaced by above two awards in 1990
Chicago Tribune Silver Football (Big Ten MVP/est. 1924)—Kerry Collins QB 1994, Michael Robinson QB 2005, Daryll Clark QB 2009 (co-winner), Saquon Barkley RB 2016 (co-winner), & Saquon Barkley RB 2017 (5th 2-time winner/4th RB to win twice)
Thompson-Randle El Freshman Player of the Year (est. 1986/updated 2011)—Curtis Enis TB 1995 (Media selection), Deion Barnes DE 2012, Christian Hackenberg QB 2013, & Nick Singleton RB 2022
Big Ten Coach of the Year (est. 1972/presented under various names)—Joe Paterno 1994, 2005, & 2008, Bill O’Brien 2012, James Franklin 2016 (Media selection)
Annual Big Ten Position Award Winners—
Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year (est. 1984/renamed 2011)—A.Q. Shipley C 2008 & Olu Fashanu OT 2023
Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year (est. 1984/renamed 2011)—Courtney Brown DE 1999, Jimmy Kennedy DT 2002, Tamba Hali DE 2005, Jared Odrick DT 2009, Devon Still DT 2011, & Abdul Carter DE 2024
Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year (est. 2011)—No Penn State winners
Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the year (est. 2011)—Saquon Barkley 2016 & 2017 (2nd to win award twice)
Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year (est. 2011)—Allen Robinson 2012 & 2013 (1st to win award twice)
Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year (est. 2011)—Pat Freiermuth 2020 & Tyler Warren 2024
Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year (est. 2015)—Saquon Barkley 2017
Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year (est. 2011)—Mike Mauti 2012, Mike Hull 2014, & Micah Parsons 2019
Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year (est. 2011)—No Penn State winners
Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year (est. 2011)—No Penn State winners
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year (est. 2011)—Jordan Stout 2021
Other Big Ten Honors—
Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award (est. 2011)—No Penn State winners
Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award (est. 2011)—No Penn State winners
AP Big Ten Newcomer of the Year—Nick Singleton RB 2022
Nittany Notes:
The Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year Award is named for Penn State legend Ted Kwalick (1966-68) and Iowa’s Dallas Clark. It is the lone conference honor named for a former Nittany Lion.
Kwalick was Consensus All-America in 1968 finishing 4th in voting for the Heisman Trophy that season. Ted’s career receptions and receiving yards remain 3rd all-time for Tight Ends at Penn State behind Tyler Warren & Mike Gesicki. Kwalick’s PSU career stats: 94 receptions, 1,442 yards, 11 TDs, 15.34 yards per catch (Modified/Complete including bowls).
He would be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Kwalick was also a 1969 1st round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers (#7 overall), and he spent 9 seasons in the NFL with the 49ers (3-time Pro Bowl selection), and the Oakland Raiders where he earned a championship ring in Super Bowl XI. Ted also played the 1975 season with the Philadelphia Bell of the short-lived WFL.