Porter named to All-Big Ten first team
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who’s been projected as a first-round draft pick, was named Tuesday to the All-Big Ten first team in separate voting by coaches and media.
Porter has 11 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry despite Nittany Lions opponents often choosing not to throw in his direction.
He was the only Penn State player to be named to the all-conference first team despite the Lions ranking in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and pass defense efficiency and sacks.
Former Gov. Mifflin standout Nick Singleton was named to the all-conference second team as a return specialist by the media and received honorable mention from the coaches.
Singleton ranks second in the conference in kickoff returns with a 25.8-yard average, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Rutgers.
The coaches selected defensive tackle PJ Mustipher to the second team, and the media voted freshman linebacker Abdul Carter to the second team.
Mustipher has 34 tackles and has been
chiefly responsible for Penn State limiting opponents to 105.1 rushing yards per game.
Carter leads Penn State with 10 ½ tackles for a loss and 6 ½ sacks and is tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.
Mustipher also was named to the third team by the media, and Carter to the third team by the coaches.
Penn State placed three other players on the third-team defense: safety Ji’Ayir Brown, cornerback Kalen King and defensive end Adisa Isaac.
Brown leads the Lions with 66 tackles and three interceptions and has two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, 5 ½ tackles for a loss, three sacks and five quarterback hurries.
King is tied for first in the nation with 18 pass breakups and leads the Big Ten with 20 passes defended, including two interceptions.
Isaac has nine tackles for a loss and four sacks. He also received honorable mention from the media.
Defensive end Chop Robinson and linebacker Curtis Jacobs received honorable mention from the coaches and media. Defensive end Nick Tarburton and punter Barney Amor were honorable-mention picks by the coaches, and cornerback Johnny Dixon and kicker Jake Pinegar by the media.
Iowa’s Jack Campbell was voted the Defensive Player of the Year and Linebacker of the Year. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh was named Coach of the Year by the coaches and media panels.
Other defensive and special teams award winners were Mike Morris, Michigan, Defensive Lineman of the Year; Devon Witherspoon, Illinois, Defensive Back of the Year; Jake Moody, Michigan, Kicker of the Year; Bryce Baringer, Michigan State, Punter of the Year; and Jaylin Lucas, Indiana, Return Specialist of the Year.
The All-Big Ten offense will be announced Wednesday, along with Freshman of the Year.