PSU’s Nassib named Big Ten Defensive Player of Year

Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa was selected the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year earlier in the broadcast, so it was a surprise to viewers when Nassib was announced as the Defensive Player of the Year. The Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award honor the nation’s top defensive player.

Penn State’s Carl Nassib was named Big Ten defensive player of the year, and Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was named freshman of the year.

Oakes set the school record for most field goals in a single season, with 22, and he leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage, with 88 percent, which is also ranked ninth nationally. The conference seems to find a way to spread things around. All three had far more sacks than Bosa, who ended the regular-season with five.

When Nassib came to Penn State as a preferred walk-on in 2011 during Joe Paterno’s final season, he was 6-5 and 218 pounds. “A lot of people dread practice and kind of just want to get through it”, Nassib said. I love this game.

Nassib was the only Penn State player to be named a first-team all-Big Ten selection on defense. McMillan expects to make the tackle on every play, and it shows. He started all 12 games this season and finished third on the team with 70 tackles. A pair of redshirt sophomores, linebacker Darron Lee and cornerback Eli Apple, joined Washington on the coaches’ second team. It is also his second straight season garnering those honors.

The Big Ten’s TV network’s website has named Lions’ running back Saquon Barkley the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Other Scarlet Knights honored were linebackers Steve Longa (third-team media, honorable mention coaches) and Quentin Gause (honorable mention media and coaches).

Honorable mention acknowledgement went to sophomore tackle Tyquan Lewis, safety Tyvis Powell, sophomore Gareon Conley, and return specialist sophomore Jalin Marshall.