Which 3 Penn State football standouts are finalists for national awards?
Three Penn State football players are finalists for national awards that will be handed out at the conclusion of the 2024 regular season. Tyler Warren is one of three tight ends still in the running for the Mackey Award, which goes annually to the nation’s best player at that position. Defensive end Abdul Carter is one of a trio still standing for the Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation’s best defensive player. And, center Nick Dawkins is up for the Wuerffel Trophy, which considers itself the premier honor for community service.
Warren is battling Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr., and Michigan’s Colston Loveland for the Mackey. He is also a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, which goes to the nation’s most versatile player, and was a semifinalist for but not a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. The Penn State star would be the odds-on favorite to win the Mackey if a betting market existed for it.
This year, Warren has 75 receptions for 910 yards and five touchdowns. He also has four rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown. He leads FBS tight ends in percentage of catches for first downs and also red zone catches. Other tight end specific stats are as followed, courtesy of Penn State: “second in total touchdowns (9; 1st in Power Four), receiving yards (910; 1st), receiving yards per game (82.7; 1st), yards per reception (75; 1st, min. 70 catches), third in receptions (75; 1st) and 100-yard receiving games (4; 2nd) and ninth in receiving touchdowns (5; T-4th).”
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Carter is battling Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter for the Bednarik Award. Current Nittany Lion analyst Dan Connor is the last Penn State player to win the honor. He did so in 2007. To date, Carter is third in the FBS but first among Power Four conference players with 17.5 tackles for loss and is 20th nationally with eight sacks. The honor will likely go to Hunter, but Carter has a good case.
Last but not least, Dawkins is battling Dean Janikowski of Washington State and Notre Dame’s Jack Kiser for the Wuerrfel. He runs the Dawkins Family Foundation,is the Penn State Uplifting Athletes chapter president, a YMCA of Centre County intern, and on the board of Devon Still’s “Still Strong Foundation.”
