Penn State defensive strength diminishes individual awards: Reaction

Penn State head coach James Franklin, when asked about the potential for individual accolades through the course of a season, offers a consistent response. Leaning on the notion of team success delivering individual honors, it’s a culture the Nittany Lions work to build.

Tuesday afternoon, year-end recognition from the Big Ten showed the dividends of that effort. Sort of, anyway.

As awarded by conference coaches, nine members of Penn State’s defense earned spots on All-Big Ten teams. As voted by conference media, the same was true, with one swapped name on the honorable mention list, making 10 in all.

But, in securing just one performer with first-team All-Big Ten recognition, the strength of the Nittany Lions’ defense – its depth – might have somewhat diminished the group’s post-season recognition despite its overall dominance this season.

Penn State All-Big Ten defenders

At the forefront, Joey Porter Jr. earned first-team honors from both the coaches and the media. And, though he was the only Nittany Lion defender to a notch first-team spot, he was joined by a handful of second- and third-team performers, plus a host of honorable mention nods. 

P.J. Mustipher was named second-team by coaches and third by media, while freshman phenom linebacker Abdul Carter was the reverse. Additionally, Ji’Ayir Brown (3rd/3rd), Kalen King (3rd/3rd), and Adisa Isaac (3rd/honorable mention) earned third-team recognition, while Chop Robinson, Curtis Jacobs, and Nick Tarburton were coaches’ honorable mention, and Johnny Dixon joined Isaac, Robinson, and Jacobs as media honorable mentions.

After a month in which the Nittany Lions suffocated their opponents weekly, averaging just 10.0 points per game allowed, the unit’s performance drew raves from Franklin.

“We’re playing good, complementary football. We’re playing really good on defense. We’ve done it for multiple weeks,” Franklin said after the Rutgers game. “Overall, we’re playing really well.”

Defensive strength

Coming out of a 10-2 regular season in which the Nittany Lions finished at or near the top of the Big Ten’s major defensive statistical categories, the post-season recognition was earned. 

But, landing only one first-team performer in Porter Jr., it also was in some ways likely a symptom of Penn State’s success under first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Relying on depth in feature roles throughout the season, Penn State’s rep count is dramatically different from a year ago at the same time. 

“If you look at our rep count on defense, it’s way down compared to last year and maybe the year before.(That’s) because we’re rotating so many guys,” Franklin said. “I think that’s why you’re seeing our defense play fresh and still being really disruptive and getting better.”

Through the 2021 regular season, Penn State had seven defensive players finish with more reps than the unit’s top on-field mainstay, Ji’Ayir Brown (611 snaps), did this year. In six cases, those counts were nearly 100-or-more reps higher than Brown’s total this season.

The team stat page serves as a reflection of that reality. 

Leading the unit with 66 stops this season, Brown is 34 short of last year’s regular-season leader. That would be Ellis Brooks, who notched 100. Brandon Smith, Brown, Jaquan Brisker, Arnold Ebiketie, Jacobs, and Jesse Luketa all finished with 61 or more tackles last season. This year, Carter’s 55 stops this season are next-highest to Brown.

Even so, the Nittany Lions’ splash play production outpaced anything from the 2021 season. Up from 11 players to secure a sack last season, Penn State had 16 this year. Up from 19 players to secure at least one TFL last season, 26 did the same this year.

‘Enough attention’

Still, somewhat incredibly, King earned only a third-team nod. His Big-Ten best 18 pass breakups, two interceptions, forced fumble and fumble recovery were excellent. They outpaced Porter’s and were among the most productive stats for cornerbacks nationally. And Brown, widely credited as dictating so much of what Penn State did defensively this season, finished only third team.

“I don’t think he’s getting enough attention,” Franklin said earlier this month. “I don’t think enough people are talking about him when it comes to college football awards and when it comes to the NFL. His name should be all over the place. He’s playing his tail off. He makes his teammates better. He’s able to impact the game both in the run game and in the passing game. So, very well-rounded football player.”

During a season in which the Nittany Lions accentuated their team-wide depth and talent, the group’s collective, on-field success wasn’t reflected in its post-season recognition as a result.