Losing record doesn’t deter from just rewards
Once again we present the Fisher-Paterno Memorial Awards, recognizing the highs and lows of Penn State’s 4-5 season and honoring the late Fran Fisher and George Paterno, popular Penn State broadcasters who also served as unofficial university ambassadors. OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR » Junior wide receiver Jahan Dotson was the clear choice. He made 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, which is tied for the Big Ten lead. He had five 100-yard games, including eight receptions for 144 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio State.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR » Shaka Toney held off late-charging safety Jaquan Brisker for the honor. Toney, a senior end, led the Nittany Lions with five sacks and had 7½ tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, one pass break-up and one forced fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR » Dotson again is an easy choice after he returned eight punts for 197 yards (24.6 average) and one touchdown. He would rank first in the Football Bowl Subdivision but he did not have enough attempts to qualify statistically. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR » True freshman wide receiver Parker Washington got the nod over cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Washington started every game, made a catch in every game and finished with 36 receptions for
489 yards and six touchdowns, tied for fourth in the Big Ten.
UNSUNG HEROES OF THE YEAR » Penn State team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli, head trainer Andy Mutnan, their staffs and student managers were instrumental in keeping the Nittany Lions mostly healthy and safe from COVID-19, allowing them to play all nine games. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR » Offensive lineman Juice Scruggs returned to action for the first time in almost two years after he suffered a broken vertebra and a concussion in a car accident in March
2019. Scruggs saw extensive time at guard and tackle and as the sixth lineman in short-yardage situations. BEST GAME » Indiana 36, Penn State 35. The Lions rolled up a huge advantage in total yards and had a chance to run out the clock after stopping Indiana on downs at its
14. But with the Hoosiers offering no resistance, Devyn Ford mistakenly ran into the end zone on the next play. That gave Penn State a
28-20 lead with 1:47 left in regulation, but Indiana drove 75 yards for a touchdown with 22 seconds to go and tied it on Michael Penix’s conversion run. The Lions scored a touchdown in overtime before Penix ran for a nine-yard touchdown and then for a controversial, gamewinning conversion. WORSTGAME» Maryland 35, Penn State 19. The Terrapins took advantage of a Penn State team that lacked focus and inspiration. Maryland took a 35-7 lead early in the third quarter and cruised to the victory, only its second over the Lions since 1961.
PLAY OF THE YEAR » Indiana coach Tom Allen decided to go for two points and the win after Penix ran for an overtime touchdown. Penix took the snap and ran around the left side. Brisker made the hit as Penix stretched for the pylon with the ball. Officials on the field ruled it a score, but replays showed that Penix’s arm touched the ground out of bounds before the ball touched the pylon. The call, however, was not overturned, enabling the Hoosiers to beat Penn State by one in the opener, which set the tone for the year. BEST INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE » Dotson caught six passes for 189 yards and two TDs and returned a punt 50 yards to set up another score in a 56-21 win over Illinois in the season finale.
BEST INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE » Senior end Shane Simmons made a career-high seven tackles, including two for losses and 1½ sacks, in a 39-24 win over Michigan State. It was the first start of his career.
BESTRUN» Lamont Wade returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against Illinois. BEST PASS » Sean Clifford pumpfaked and threw a deep pass to Dotson for a 68-yard touchdown in the third quarter of a loss to Iowa. BESTCATCH» Dotson made a spec
tacular one-handed grab for a 22yard touchdown in the third quarter against Ohio State and premier cornerback Shaun Wade. SURPRISE OF THE YEAR » Parker Washington emerged as an offensive weapon as a true freshman. DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR » Sean Clifford and backup quarterback Will Levis combined to commit 14 of Penn State’s 17 turnovers, which led to 65 points for opponents. BESTCALL» Penn State’s decision to decline any potential bowl invitation. WORSTCALL» The Lions ran 16 second-half plays from inside the Nebraska 20 and came away with three points, gaining 23 yards mostly because of puzzling play calls.
GOOD GUY AWARD » Let’s go with Dotson on offense and tackle PJ
Mustipher on defense.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR (COACH) » “I can’t tell you what I would do for a hug from my wife and daughters. I can’t express (that) to you.” — head coach James Franklin in early December about his family, who has been living in Florida and who he hadn’t seen since August in order to protect his younger daughter, who has sickle cell anemia, from COVID-19.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR (PLAYER) » “Nobody had slept right in months. It was hard. It was tough. I don’t think people on the outside know what it’s like to lose five games in a row. We were in foreign territory. We stuck together. We improved every day and it started showing up on Saturdays.”— Mustipher after the win over Illinois.