Penn State recognizes outstanding performers at year-end banquet

Penn State awarded its top performers for the 2021 season Sunday night at its annual awards banquet.

And the list of honorees is plentiful.

Led by the team Most Valuable Player, and offensive MVP, Jahan Dotson, the Nittany Lions’ other top award went to safety Jaquan Brisker for defensive MVP. Both players finished the 2021 regular season with a litany of outside honors including first-team All-Big Ten selections, including All-American nods for Brisker and an Associated Press all-conference pick for Dotson, among many others.

Here is a look at Penn State’s other standout players and the team recognitions earned for their performances both on and off the field this season.

Quarterback Sean Clifford

– Lions’ Pride Outstanding Senior Player Award (greatest career contribution to Penn State football)

– Captain’s Award

– Public Service Award

Penn State senior quarterback Sean Clifford made the week’s biggest splash for the 2022 season when he announced his return to the program for a sixth year on Friday.

By Sunday evening, the program demonstrated its appreciation for his ongoing contributions.

Recognized for his charitable work, having earned a $10k donation in his name from his selection to the Allstate Good Works Team, plus donated NIL monies, Clifford was also named the Lions’ Pride Outstanding Senior Player for his career contribution to the program, along with recognition as one of seven team captains this season.

Clifford started each of Penn State’s 12 games this season, finishing with 247 completions on 396 attempts for 2,912 yards and 20 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also added two scores on the ground to his tally for the year. 

Friday afternoon, Clifford announced his return to the program and the anticipation he has accompanying the decision, explaining its place as “family” in his life.

“I will be returning to Penn State to play one more season in the Blue & White,” he wrote. “I could not pass up the chance to be with this family and play the game I love again. The opportunity to play alongside my brother, Liam, and the rest of my brothers on the team made the decision easy.

“I am extremely excited to finish the season strong in Tampa and then go to work with such a great group again! See y’all in Beaver soon…WE ARE!”

Receiver Jahan Dotson

– Most Valuable Player

– Most Valuable Offensive Player

Dotson produced a stellar junior season as a Nittany Lion in 2020, prompting a possible early entry to the NFL in its aftermath.

Choosing to return for a final campaign this year, he bested it. 

Moving up Penn State’s record books for his career performance as well as his single-season effort, Dotson posted 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the Nittany Lions offensively. Subsequently earning the team MVP and offensive MVP awards from the program Sunday night, Dotson again made clear why he has earned such a lofty place in the eyes of his coaches and teammates.

“I say it all the time. I’m super proud of not only Jahan Dotson on the football field, but the type of young man he is, how his parents raised him, the type of student he is,” Franklin said earlier this season. “He’s a perfect representation of what we want to be at Penn State. I’m not surprised at all. He’s got a very bright future, and I’m a big fan, as you could imagine.”

Safety Jaquan Brisker

– Most Valuable Defensive Player

– Captain’s Award

Like Dotson, Brisker’s decision to return to the Nittany Lions for the 2021 season proved extremely beneficial to both the player and program.

A Senior Bowl selection for his performance, Brisker earned multiple All-American and All-Big Ten nods for leading Penn State’s stout defense. Finishing with 64 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for a loss, Brisker also produced a pair of key interceptions and five passes broken up. 

Emerging from the season having produced two shutouts and holding every opponent to 30-or-fewer offensive points scored this season, Brisker praised the unit for its excellence and consistency.

“One out of 10, I would probably give it a 10 or a nine. I just feel like the situations we’ve been in this year or just period, we stopped a lot of great teams and we held our own,” he said. “I would say we never gave up on each other. We always look like a great defense. We’re always consistent. We don’t look like we’re up and down.”

DE/LB Jesse Luketa

– Bob Mitinger Memorial Award (senior who exhibits courage, character, and social responsibility)

– Keystone Award (an individual considered to be the foundation of the program)

Something of an unknown coming into the season, hurt through spring practice, on top of a position change to a hybrid defensive end and linebacker, Luketa answered every question and more.

Returning for his senior season, Luketa finished with 52 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, and half a sack. 

Praising his versatility, Franklin said that Luketa had been an asset to Penn State’s defense throughout the season.

“I think it’s probably no different than any other industry. The more things that you can do and the more value you can bring to the institution or the team you’re playing for, the better,” Franklin said. “The fact that Jesse can play Mike linebacker and thrive as an inside linebacker, and then play defensive end, I think that helps people project him, whether it’s a 3-5 outside linebacker, or whether it’s an inside linebacker maybe even in a 3-4 system as well. So, I think it helps him, and I know it helps us.” 

DE Arnold Ebiketie

– Reid-Robinson Award (outstanding defensive lineman)

– Iron Lion Award (strength and conditioning – for intensity and consistency)

– Keystone Award (an individual considered to be the foundation of the program.

Already an important piece of Penn State’s plans through the transfer portal ahead of the 2021 season, Ebiketie’s presence became outsized when Adisa Isaac got hurt in the summer.

Immediately making his mark with the Nittany Lions in the spring and summer, the Temple transfer made a splash at Wisconsin to open the season and only grew from there. His 9.5 sacks were on top of 62 tackles and 18.0 TFLs, prompting Franklin to acknowledge just how big of an impact Ebiketie had made through the course of the season. 

“Obviously when he got here and we did the testing numbers right away, we were impressed. He’s another guy that was a high school linebacker and was a linebacker when he first got to Temple. And that athleticism and that explosiveness that he has shown up right away in testing and workouts,” Franklin said. “He just continues to grow within the program. He’s gotten bigger and stronger and has been a tremendous addition. I’m super happy for him and his family and proud of him and he’s been great.”

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In addition to Penn State’s multiple award-winning players recognized by the team Sunday, the Nittany Lions also recognized dozens of other players for their contributions this season at the year-ending awards banquet.

Among them, senior defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher won the Ridge Riley Award, given to a senior for “sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership, and friendship.”

Juice Scruggs was recognized as the team’s outstanding offensive lineman with the Dick Maginnis Memorial Award.

Punter and kicker Jordan Stout was named the most outstanding special teams performer as the June Bruno Memorial Award winner.

Running back Noah Cain and Nick Tarburton shared the Tim Shaw Thrive Award, given to the student-athlete “who has overcome adversities and been an inspiration to his fellow teammates).

Outstanding Run-On Award winners included safety Sebastian Constantini and receiver Justin Weller for exemplifying “total commitment, loyalty, hard work, and courage). Notably, Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year honors were bestowed upon safety Jaden Seider, linebacker Dom DeLuca, and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg, with offensive honors in the same category going to quarterback Mason Stahl and tight end Dan Vasey, and special teams going to Kaleb Brown.

Academic recognition went to Weller as the senior with the highest GPA, and long snapper Michael Wright earning the team’s Highest Academic Average award.