Penn State sends five to Associated Press All-Big Ten teams

Penn State’s postseason recognition continued Tuesday.

Following last week’s all-conference picks, the release of this year’s AP All-Big Ten teams included five Nittany Lions on the first- and second-team units.

.@AP All-B1G Squad #WeAre pic.twitter.com/YF0d95o00Z

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 7, 2021

First-team selections

At the forefront, safety Jaquan Brisker continued his string of postseason honors for his fifth-year senior performance.

He was joined on the first-team as selected by Associated Press voters by defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher and punter Jordan Stout. Second-team Penn State All-Big Ten AP choices included receiver Jahan Dotson and defensive end Arnold Ebiketie.

For Brisker, the honor builds on a foundation established well before the start of the 2021 season at Penn State. Returning for the NCAA bonus year of eligibility due to COVID-19, the safety said he’d hoped to make an impact beyond that shown in the stat page.

“I see myself as an influence a lot, just off the field, on the field, showing my work ethic, having knowledge, and taking people in to see what I see. Or just showing how I work in the weight room or just how I carry myself,” Brisker said ahead of the 2021 campaign. “And then off the field, just showing how I changed, just completely with school, always showing up to class, always doing my work and always doing what I’m supposed to do off the field.

“Sometimes players might catch me here at the field by myself. I still got those Lackawanna habits and the work ethic. I feel like I’m an influence on my teammates because of the way I approach walking into the building, always taking notes, always having that serious attitude. So I feel like my teammates definitely look at how I work and how I carry myself on and off the field.”

That effort helped lead Brisker to 64 tackles and a pair of interceptions for Penn State, including a key game-winning pick against Wisconsin in the season-opener. Brisker is set to participate in the Senior Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

Along with Brisker, redshirt senior Stout also earned a first-team nod after winning the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year honor last week.

His 46.5 yards per punt finished 10th nationally in the regular season on 62 attempts, 34 of which were downed inside the 20 and 25 going for 50-or-more yards. Only three punts went for touchbacks.

In an oddity given his participation in just five games before getting injured at Iowa in the first quarter, Mustipher rounded out Penn State’s first-team picks. The defensive tackle finished with 21 tackles and a sack.

Whether or not Mustipher returns for a bonus season with the Nittany Lions has yet to be decided or announced, but it is a possibility given his injury shortened year.

“I’ve had my end of season meeting with Coach Franklin already. We did that. But, no, I haven’t made any final decisions yet,” Mustipher told reporters last month. “I’m hoping to make that within the next couple weeks, but I’ve still got to sit down with my family and discuss everything.

“I haven’t made no plans yet, just trying to finish out the rest of the season strong and get a win in our bowl game. So I’m focused on the guys right now. Just haven’t made that decision yet, but hoping to make it soon.”

Second-team selections

Rounding out Penn State’s AP All-Big Ten picks, Walter Camp Player of the Year semifinalist Jahan Dotson was bested by Purdue’s David Bell and Ohio State’s Chris Olave on the first team.

He led Penn State with 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air with another score on the ground.

Senior Penn State transfer defensive end Arnold Ebiketie also earned a second-team AP All-Big Ten selection. He finished behind Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Purdue’s George Karlaftis in the voting.

A standout success through the transfer portal, Ebiketie wowed head coach James Franklin and the staff from his arrival into the program last January.

“When you get a chance to know the kid and be around him, he’s been awesome,” Franklin said. “Obviously, he’s made a huge impact for us on the defensive side of the ball.

“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.”