Penn State Football will have four student-athletes represent the Nittany Lions on the 2014 All-Big Ten first and second teams, which are voted by the conference coaches and media. One Nittany Lion stood out, earning a distinguished individual honor.
Senior linebacker Mike Hull was selected as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. The Canonsburg, Pa. native led the conference in tackles and ended the season as an All-American candidate. He was also named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. Hull joins former Penn State linebacker and All-American Michael Mauti as recipients of the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year Award, giving Linebacker U two of the award’s initial four recipients.
Anthony Zettel, a junior defensive tackle, was also selected first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. The West Branch, Mich. native led the team in tackles for loss and sacks.
Senior kicker Sam Ficken was selected second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. The Valparaiso, Ind. native broke Penn State’s season field goal record with 23 made field goals made in 28 attempts. He broke the record last Saturday in the team’s season finale against No. 10 Michigan State at home.
Redshirt freshman receiver DaeSean Hamilton joins Ficken as a second-team All-Big Ten selection. The Fredericksburg, Va. native was the Big Ten’s leading receiver all season and was selected Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice this season, the second-highest total in the conference.
Along with the four players who made All-Big Ten teams, there were seven other Nittany Lions who earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition: senior safety Adrian Amos, junior defensive end Deion Barnes, junior tight end Jesse James, sophomore defensive tackle Austin Johnson, junior cornerback Jordan Lucas, junior center Angelo Mangiro, and junior cornerback Trevor Williams. Amos is the only player on that list who will not be returning in 2015.
Here are a few season statistics and notes on the Penn State players who made All-Big Ten teams:
Mike Hull (senior co-captain): First Team All-Big Ten
- 134 tackles (11.2 tackles per game) – leads the Big Ten tackles and ranks seventh in nation.
- Led the Big Ten in tackles in conference games only (96, 12.0 tackles per game).
- Recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three pass break-ups.
- Led the team in tackles in 11 of 12 games this season, with eight double-figure games and three games with nine stops.
- Ranks No. 6 on Penn State’s career tackles list with 288 and is No. 6 on the school’s season tackles list with 134.
- Career-high 19 tackles against Ohio State.
- Ninth Nittany Lion linebacker selected first-team All-Big Ten for a total of 13 times.
Anthony Zettel: First Team All-Big Ten
- Led the team with 15.0 tackles for loss (14 solos; minus-65 yards) and 8.0 sacks (minus-46 yards).
- Tied for No. 4 in sacks and tackles for loss in the Big 10.
- 36 tackles (23 solo), tied for the team lead with three interceptions, forced one fumble, recorded one fumble recovery, and five pass break-ups.
- Most interceptions in a season by a Nittany Lion defensive lineman since 1982.
- His second interception of the season against Ohio State was returned 40 yards for a touchdown (Penn State’s first “Pick Six” since 2009).
- 15th Nittany Lion defensive lineman selected first-team All-Big Ten for a total of 18 times.
Sam Ficken (senior co-captain): Second Team All-Big Ten
- Led the conference in field goals made per game (1.92 per game), No. 3 among all FBS placekickers.
- Made 23 of 28 field goals attempts this season, ranking 11th in the nation in field goal accuracy (82.1).
- Semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-kicker Award, owns Penn State’s season field goal record (23) and is No. 2 with 53 career field goals made.
- Led team in scoring for the third consecutive year, with 93 points (23-28 FG, 24-24 PAT) and ranks fourth on the school career scoring list with 264 points.
- Selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season and four times in his career.
DaeSean Hamilton: Second Team All-Big Ten
- Broke Penn State freshman records for receptions and receiving yards in his first career game ( 11 catches for 165 yards).
- Broke his own receptions record with 14 against Ohio State, as well as the freshmen season receptions (75) and yardage records (848, 11.3 yards per catch) and one touchdown.
- Led the Big Ten in catches (6.3 catches per game).
- Only FBS freshman averaging more than 5.7 receptions per game and among only six freshmen nationally averaging at least 70 receiving yards per contest.
Penn State completed their season on Saturday and is eligible to participate in their first bowl game (45th all-time) since 2011. The Lions are heavily favored to play in the Pinstripe Bowl but that remains to be seen. The Big Ten bowl selections will be announced on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 7.
*Section Photo credit to Jamie Sabau, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Matthew O’Haren, USA Today Sports.
