Butler Press Conference Transcript

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Newly-promoted Penn State defensive coordinator John Butler is full speed ahead in getting things in order for the remainder of the recruiting period and the 2013 season.

Head coach Bill O'Brien walked into Butler's office on Wednesday afternoon and notified him that he would be the leader of Penn State's defensive.  Butler immediately accepted the offer and went right to work on what needs to be done to help build on the success he and the staff achieved in 2012.

A passionate leader with great intensity on the field and in the meeting room, Butler has trained for 19 years to be in the position that he will occupy in the fall.  With a diverse background, including experience coaching all three spots on defense and special teams, Butler is looking forward to the challenge.

The suburban Philadelphia native will lead a multiple defense that plays aggressive and fast.  Butler interviewed with several local and regional TV stations, along with local beat reporters on Thursday.  Check out a few highlights from the conversations with the media.


What does this opportunity mean to you and how have you prepared yourself for this step?
Butler: "I think that everything has prepared me for this step.  With every job you take, you are getting yourself ready for the next opportunity.  This is obviously a tremendous honor that Bill (O'Brien) has given me to take over as the defensive coordinator at Penn State.  There is going to be a ton of consistency here with Ron (Vanderlinden) and Larry (Johnson) being here as two great coaches.  We are going to put this thing together, and it will be very similar to what we did in 2012."

What is your general philosophy of defense?
Butler: "I think we are going to be multiple.  We are going to be aggressive.  We are going to be simple enough so that our players can play really fast.  It doesn't really matter what I know or what Ron knows or what Larry knows, it really comes down to what our players know for how fast we can play.  One of the biggest things we are going to do is that we are going to try and create problems for the offense so that we are a difficult defense for our opponents to prepare for."

How did you find out about the position?
Butler: "Well everything happened yesterday.  At some point yesterday morning, Bill (O'Brien) and Ted (Roof) had a conversation about what Ted was going to do.  Pretty much thereafter, I don't know the exact timeline yesterday morning, but Bill came in and said 'I'm going to promote you to be the defensive coordinator'.  I said, 'That's great.  Thanks a lot. What do you need me to do.' 

What do you see your future involvement with the secondary and special teams looking like moving forward?
Butler: "I'm going to still be involved with the secondary, whether I coach the corners or I coach the safeties that will be determined, but I am going to maintain a coaching role.  I am not going to be a walk around coordinator."

What has the relationship been like with you and the defensive staff for the past year, and how has it grown?
Butler: "Larry and Ron are great guys, most importantly great family men and great leaders here at Penn State.  They are fully invested in everything that has happened here in the past on the field and everything that we did last year, and then everything that we are going to do moving forward.  You've got one of the best linebacker coaches in football; you've got one of the best D-Line coaches in football with you helping you put together a plan.  What a great opportunity to continue working with those guys and whoever else we hire on defense to continue to maintain the standard of excellence they've had here on defense at Penn State.  I'd much rather have it be with guys like them, highly successful coaches that believe in what we are doing here at Penn State."

What type of players do you inherit on your defense for 2013?
Butler: "We obviously have some young players, some very talented players.  We do have some guys with some experience coming back who we are excited about.  Every team takes on a new identity, and quite frankly we are trying to cultivate and develop the leaders for the 2013 football team.  That kind of started when classes started this week, and that will take on a life of its own.  I feel like we have a talented enough group, as long as we stay healthy, to continue to move this thing forward.  We've got good enough players."


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Bill O'Brien Press Conference Transcript - Jan. 7

Dr. David Joyner Press Remarks - Jan. 7


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Bill O'Brien's love for coaching football at Penn State is why he is eagerly anticipating the start of the preparations for the 2013 season.

Introduced as the head coach of the Nittany Lions one year ago on Monday, O'Brien wouldn't trade the position he is in right now for anything.

"I can't think of a better place to be," O'Brien said.

Coaching football is O'Brien's craft.  He wakes up early every morning, drives from his home in Boalsburg to one of two Dunkin' Donuts in State College to order an extra large coffee (three Splenda and extra cream), walks into the Lasch Football Building up the stairs to his second-floor office and works tireless hours to find ways to get the most out of his student-athletes on the field and in the classroom.

Why?

"My job is as the head football coach of Penn State is to make sure that we field the best football team we possibly can, that we graduate our players, and that we continue to attract some of the top-notch character, academic disciplined kids, student-athletes, that are out there.  That's my job.  I absolutely enjoy every single day coming to work here," O'Brien said.

In football coaching, the National Football League is the pinnacle of the sport.  Out of respect for the job O'Brien did in leading the Nittany Lions in 2012 and his previous experience in the NFL, a few teams recently reached out to his representative.  He had conversations, but that is as far as it went.  O'Brien is the leader of Penn State Football because this is where he wants to be.

"You know, at the end of the day, the most important thing is the decision that I made," O'Brien said.  "I made the decision to be here at Penn State, just like I made that decision a year ago...This is a top 10 football program.  This is one of the best academic institutions in the country, in the world, and I am very, very proud to be the head football coach here.  Very proud."

He likes everything involved with the challenge of coaching, from crafting game plans to spending countless hours reviewing film from his desk chair in his office.  Anyone who thinks O'Brien coaches for another reason misinterprets the man who is leading Penn State Football.

"If I was about money, more than likely, I probably wouldn't be sitting here now," said O'Brien. "It's not about money. It's about making sure that Penn State University, the Penn State athletic department, Penn State Football does everything we can to make sure it's the best we can for our student-athletes. That's what it's about."

O'Brien forged a bond with the players on the day he first addressed the team, which is exactly one year ago on Tuesday.  The feeling between the two is mutual.

"I trust my players, and I believe that they trust me, and like I said, I love coaching these kids and can't wait to start working with them for spring practice," O'Brien said.

O'Brien and the players met at 7 a.m. on Monday for the first time as a complete group during the new calendar year.  The Nittany Lions are looking to build on the 8-4 campaign last fall, but the book is closed on 2012.  This is a new team, and the group is eager for what is ahead.

"Every year is different.  I just met with the team here, and I said, look, 2012 has been over for a couple months now, and we've got to create a new identity," said O'Brien.

Between now and the start of spring practice in March, O'Brien and the coaching staff will again hit the recruiting trail.  National Signing Day is on Feb. 6.  The players will commence offseason strength and conditioning work immediately.

The Nittany Lions begin the 2013 regular season on Aug. 31 inside MetLife Stadium against Syracuse.

The countdown clock stands at 236 days until the opener.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With the start of the spring academic semester on Monday, the Nittany Lion football program welcomes five new student-athletes who are enrolled in classes and will be eligible to participate in spring practice with the Nittany Lions in 2013. 

The list includes four high school players who graduated early to enroll at Penn State and one junior-college signee.  The Nittany Lions welcome one quarterback, one running back, one tight end and two defensive backs for the start of the spring semester.

The January signees include running back Richy Anderson (Frederick, Md.), tight end Adam Breneman (Camp Hill, Pa.), quarterback Tyler Ferguson (Visalia, Calif.), defensive back Anthony Smith (Randolph, N.J.) and defensive back Jordan Smith (Washington, D.C.).

The five signees will join the returning Nittany Lions on campus for the culmination of the winter strength and conditioning program immediately.  National Signing Day is on Feb. 6.  The 2013 Blue-White Game is scheduled for April 20.

ESPN and Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year Bill O'Brien and the Nittany Lions open the 2013 season on Aug. 31 against Syracuse at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.  Penn State returns 16 starters for 2013 - eight on offense, six on defense and two specialists, along with 10 additional returnees with starting experience.


Richy Anderson
RB | Frederick, Md. | Governor Thomas Johnson High School
Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 180
The son of former Nittany Lion great and NFL running back Richie Anderson, Richy Anderson is a 5-11, 180-pound versatile all-purpose back.  The Frederick, Md., native produced more than 1,700 yards of offense and 15 touchdowns as a junior at Governor Thomas Johnson High School.  Rated a three-star prospect on Scout.com, Rivals.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports, Anderson helped lead Thomas Johnson HS to the Class 3A state title game in 2011.  Anderson's father lettered at Penn State from 1991-92, rushing for 1,756 yards and 31 touchdowns before embarking on a 12-year NFL career with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.






Adam Breneman
TE | Camp Hill, Pa. | Cedar Cliff High School
Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 230
Rated among the nation's top tight ends, Camp Hill, Pa., native Adam Breneman brings a versatile skill set to the Nittany Lion program.  The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Breneman possesses great speed and quickness for a player his size.  A crisp route runner with good hands, the Cedar Cliff High School standout has the tools to line up in a variety of locations on offense.  Breneman's traits will fit nicely into the Bill O'Brien tight end-friendly offensive scheme.  Rated a five-star prospect by Rivals, Breneman caught 72 passes for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.  As a sophomore, Breneman made 60 receptions for 863 yards and eight touchdowns.  Off the field, Breneman played an instrumental role in a fundraising effort, "Catch the Cure", which helped raise more than $80,000 for Project A.L.S.





Tyler Ferguson
QB | Visalia, Calif. | College of the Sequoias
Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 210
A standout quarterback at The College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., quarterback Tyler Ferguson enters the spring semester with three years of eligibility at Penn State.  Ferguson, who threw for 2,614 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games during 2012, is a 6-5, 210-pound signal-caller.  He completed better than 55 percent of his passes and was the second-leading passer in the CCCAA's Central Valley Conference.  The Bakersfield, Calif., product threw for 1,275 yards and touchdowns as a senior at Ridgeview High School.  He fueled a 6-0 start during his senior season in 2011 before suffering a broken collarbone.  Ferguson is an accurate passer with good pocket awareness and the ability to tuck the ball and run when he needs to.





Anthony Smith
DB | Randolph, N.J. | Valley Forge Military Academy
Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 185
Defensive back Anthony Smith will likely have an opportunity to make an early impact during spring drills in the Penn State secondary and on special teams.  A 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back hailing from Randolph, N.J., Smith spent last season at Valley Forge Military Academy.  In addition to playing in the defensive backfield, Smith spent time at quarterback and was the long snapper for Valley Forge in 2012.  He earned second-team All-West Jersey honors during his final season at Pope John XXIII High School (Sussex County, N.J.) in 2011.   Smith is an aggressive player with the size and speed to add depth in the Penn State secondary and special teams unit when spring drills begin in March.





Jordan Smith
DB | Washington, D.C. | H.D. Woodson High School
Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 185
Penn State has had a long line of talented players from suburban Washington, D.C., and 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back Jordan Smith will look to join that list for the Nittany Lions.  Smith is an aggressive athlete with the skill set to play either in a number of different spots in the secondary.  Like Anthony Smith, Jordan Smith will likely have an opportunity to add depth and make an early impact in the secondary and on special teams during spring drills.  Smith tallied two-straight 60-plus tackle seasons at Archbishop Carroll High School before moving to H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C.  Smith's older brother, Stephen, played high school football with former Nittany Lion great Derrick Williams at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland.




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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 2012 calendar year was one marked by excellence and achievement from numerous Penn State teams.

As we close in on the final days of 2012, GoPSUsports.com wanted to take time and reflect on a tremendous year for Penn State Athletics.  The hiring of head coach Bill O'Brien on Jan. 6, in many ways, set a tone for the athletic department throughout the calendar year.  O'Brien's introductory press conference highlighted a clear vision for how the football program would try to do its part in helping the athletic department move forward as One Team.

The results speak for themselves, and all 31 Penn State teams across the University Park campus should be recognized for their efforts in 2012.  The list of achievements on the field of play, including one national title and seven Big Ten titles, and in the classroom, including more than 270 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, is tremendous.

The spring season included a Big Ten and NCAA title from the wrestling team for second-straight season.  Three Nittany Lion wrestlers - Frank Molinaro, David Taylor and Ed Ruth - won individual national titles.  The Lady Lions, who clinched a Big Ten title on the BJC hardwood in February, earned a spot in the Sweet Sixteen for the 12th time in program history.  The men's volleyball team earned a trip to the NCAA National Semifinals for the 27th time.  The women's lacrosse team reached the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Additionally, 171 Penn State student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades during the winter and spring seasons.  Men's gymnastics' Miguel Pineda was named a first Academic All-American.

The fall campaign was one for the Penn State record books.  Penn State won five Big Ten championships and had five coaches selected conference coach of the year.  The field hockey team (Char Morett) won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, the men's soccer team (Bob Warming), women's soccer (Erica Walsh) and women's volleyball (Russ Rose) teams all won Big Ten championships.  Additionally, after leading the Nittany Lion football team to an 8-4 campaign, including six Big Ten wins, Bill O'Brien was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.

In postseason competition, the women's soccer team reached the NCAA College Cup Final for the first time in program history.  The women's volleyball team played in the NCAA National Semifinals for the 10th time in school history.  The women's cross country team captured the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional crown on its home course.

The story was much of the same in the classroom.  A fall record 100 Penn State student-athletes achieved Academic All-Big Ten recognition this semester, including a trio of 4.0 students - football's John Urschel, women's volleyball's Maggie Harding and women's cross country's Katie Rodden.  Football's Pete Massaro and Urschel earned first team Academic All-America honors.  Harding won the Elite 89 Award for the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship for having the highest cumulative grade point average of student-athletes participating in the championship.

With so many events to choose from, narrowing down the list of outstanding Penn State sporting events from 2012 to just 10 was a challenge, but here are your 10 nominees for the top sporting event of the outstanding 2012 calendar year for Penn State Athletics.

From now until Dec. 28, cast your vote for the top event of the year.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Lasch Football Building has been a hub of activity since the 24-21 overtime victory over Wisconsin on Nov. 24.

In the weeks since the Senior Day triumph in Beaver Stadium, head coach Bill O'Brien and the coaching staff hit the recruiting trail, the returning Nittany Lion players ramped up offseason conditioning, O'Brien held extensive coaching staff meetings to iron out personnel plans and spring practice and conducted one-on-one exit interviews with every returning player.

Coach O'Brien said the meetings with more than 80 players were positive as the Nittany Lions look ahead to the 2013 season.  While his eyes are on recruiting, spring practice and next season, O'Brien took some time to reflect on his first campaign at the helm of Penn State Football.

"It was a very good start to a new era of Penn State football," O'Brien said. "Just like any season, you wish you had a few plays back, but it just feels like it was a successful season."

Following an 0-2 start, the Nittany Lions caught fire in the latter stages of September.  Penn State rattled off five-straight victories en route to winning eight of its final 10 games, including six in the Big Ten.  The Nittany Lions finished second in the Big Ten Leaders Division.

Relentless effort on the practice field throughout the season and an emphasis on complementary football played a paramount role in Penn State's 8-4 season.

"I think we did a really good job of playing together," O'Brien said.  "Our players did a great job buying into how offense, defense and special teams work together.  We showed that to the players on film that here's how it works when it goes well and here's how it works when it doesn't go well.  The mantra is One Team."

O'Brien, who was named the Maxwell Football Club's Collegiate Coach of the Year on Wednesday, set the tone for 2012 during his introductory press conference on Jan. 7.  From there, he then met with the team and formed an instantaneous bond with the senior class.

Without the 31-member senior class' leadership, it is hard to imagine how the 2012 season would have gone.  Michael Mauti and Michael Zordich spearheaded the effort to keep the team intact when the NCAA announcement came out on July 23.  The seniors set the standard for how the team was going to approach every day with a workmanlike attitude.

It was only fitting for the senior class to finish their Penn State careers with a dramatic victory on their final Saturday in Blue and White.  O'Brien said the victory over eventual Big Ten champion Wisconsin and the locker room scene after the game was the highlight of his first season in Happy Valley.

"To win that game against a tough Wisconsin team that was going to the Big Ten Championship Game," O'Brien said.  "I felt great for these players.  These kids are 19, 20 and 21 years old, and they had to deal with a lot of stuff you or I didn't have to deal with at that age.  I felt really good for those 31 seniors.  To finish on a high note like that, it was a great locker room scene."

The Nittany Lions return a corps of talented athletes on both sides of the ball, headlined by Big Ten Receiver of the Year Allen Robinson, first team All-Big Ten guard John Urschel, first team All-Big Ten tight end Kyle Carter and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Deion Barnes.  Additionally, 1,000-yard running back Zach Zwinak returns to the offense.  Glenn Carson, who finished with 85 tackles, will anchor the linebacker corps, while Adrian Amos, Malcolm Willis and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong all return as starters in the secondary.

O'Brien and the Nittany Lions laid the groundwork for the future of Penn State Football with a hard-working, gritty style during a superb 2012 season.  Now, it is up to the 2013 squad to establish its identity during offseason workouts.

Penn State will wrap up final exams this week before heading home for the holiday break.  Offseason conditioning and recruiting will pick back up in January.

The 2013 season begins in 255 days when the Lions take on Syracuse in MetLife Stadium on Aug. 31.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 2012 Nittany Lion football team received a standing ovation when it was recognized inside the Bryce Jordan Center at Saturday's men's basketball game.

Senior members of the squad and All-Big Ten honorees greeted fans and signed autographs before the game, and then the team and Big Ten Coach of the Year Bill O'Brien then walked out onto the floor at halftime of Penn State's 78-70 win over Army.  Take a look.

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RELEASE: O'Brien Sweeps Big Ten Coach of the Year Honors; Barnes Freshman of the Year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Bill O'Brien was honored by the Big Ten Conference's coaches and media on Tuesday for his tremendous effort during the 2012 season as the Coach of the Year.  Additionally, redshirt freshman defensive end Deion Barnes earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades.

The honors for O'Brien and Barnes come one day after 14 Nittany Lions were honored for All-Big Ten recognition, including six student-athletes on the conference's first team.


Bill O'Brien - Hayes-Schembechler; Dave McClain Coach of the Year
The leadership Coach O'Brien exuded on the day he was hired resonated with every member of the football program, athletic department and fan base.  The first-year leader met every challenge he faced during his remarkable first seven months on the job with nothing but confidence.  Preparing for a season under the circumstances O'Brien was forced to deal with was truly unprecedented in college football history.  But none of that mattered.  He earned the trust of a special senior class on the day he first met the group.  In return, O'Brien entrusted the group of 31 seniors, which led to a collective bond in one of the tightest locker rooms any program could have.

Sure, O'Brien would love to have a couple plays back in a few games, but winning eight games in 2012 was a tremendous accomplishment for the first-year head coach, the assistants and the players on the roster.  It's hard to speculate where the football program would be today without the leadership of O'Brien and the 2012 senior class.

A tireless work, O'Brien was the first one in the Lasch Building and the last one to leave all season long.  His ultra-competitive attitude became engrained in the mind of everyone on the team.  Practices were competitive every single day because the players on the roster wanted to be the best in everything.  That mindset permeated from O'Brien.  Nobody wants to win more on Saturdays than O'Brien, and his team had the same attitude every time it stepped onto the field.

As he has said numerous times, the 2012 squad was not an undefeated team but it was a special group.  While the senior class played an instrumental role in keeping the team together during its toughest time, O'Brien is the reason this group was so special.  Winning eight games is an unbelievable accomplishment under the circumstances O'Brien and the Nittany Lions did in 2012, but how they approached every practice and game is why there was only one choice for Big Ten Coach of the Year.

DE Deion Barnes - Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Redshirt freshman Deion Barnes has all the tools to become an elite defensive end for the Nittany Lions.  In 2012, Barnes finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten in sacks with 6.0.  The Philadelphia product made 26 tackles, including 10.0 hits for loss.  He also forced three fumbles.  Possessing great speed and quickness off the edge, Barnes posed a big challenge for opposing tackles every week.  Learning from one of the best position coaches in America, Barnes said that the biggest thing defensive line coach Larry Johnson taught him was how to play fast.  The end result was a standout rookie campaign for one of the most likeable personalities in the Penn State locker room.

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RELEASE - Six Nittany Lions Named First Team All-Big Ten

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - On the heels of Saturday's thrilling 24-21 overtime win over Wisconsin, the Nittany Lion football program earned All-Big Ten recognition for 14 players, including six Lions on the First Team All-Big Ten list, on Monday.

Take a look through a highlight list of Penn State's 2012 All-Big Ten selections.


First Team All-Big Ten Honorees:
WR Allen Robinson - Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year
Sophomore wide receiver Allen Robinson laid the groundwork for a stellar 2012 season during spring practice.  The Michigan native evolved into Penn State's top wide receiver at the end of spring drills before the team headed into summer conditioning.  He had a great summer workout season, and from there, Robinson never looked back.  He entered the season with three career receptions for 29 yards and zero touchdowns.  Robinson ended the season as the school's season reception leader (77), a 1,000-yard receiver and 11 touchdowns.  Robinson topped the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.4), receiving yards per game (84.8) and receiving touchdowns 11.  A smooth route-runner with great hands, Robinson made 19 catches in the first two games of the season.  In all, he made at least nine receptions in four different games, including a career-best 10 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns against Indiana.  The future is bright for the Nittany Lion who re-wrote the receiving record books in 2012.

C Matt Stankiewitch
Senior center Matt Stankiewitch was the first offensive player sprinting from drill to drill on the practice field every day, all season long.  The leader of the Nittany Lion offensive line was a physical, gritty force that played an instrumental role in helping Zach Zwinak reach 1,000 rushing yards, marking Penn State's eighth-straight season to accomplish that feat.  A starter in every game for the past two seasons, Stankiewitch was a consistent producer every week for the Nittany Lion offense.

G John Urschel
Junior guard John Urschel is perfect student in the classroom, and his play on the field in 2012 was not far behind.  Playing in every game for the past two seasons, Urschel established himself as one of the top right guards in the conference with consistent production every Saturday in 2012.  The Williamsville, N.Y., native helped Nittany Lion running back Zach Zwinak reach 1,000 rushing yards for the season, marking Penn State's eighth-straight season to accomplish that feat.  Urschel also helped anchor an offensive line that played a paramount role in Matt McGloin's record-breaking season at the quarterback position, which included 3,271 yards.

TE Kyle Carter
From the day head coach Bill O'Brien was hired, Kyle Carter knew it was going to be a thrill playing tight end in his offense.  Carter fits the mold of a prototypical "F" tight end in Coach O'Brien's offense with great speed to go along with a 6-3, 241-pound frame.  Despite missing three games due to injury, Carter finished second on the team in receptions with 36.  Carter and the Nittany Lion tight end corps finished with 82 receptions and 10 touchdowns in 2012.  The Bear, Del., native made several tremendous receptions in games, but he arguably led the team in highlight real catches on the practice field.  Carter is a tremendous athlete with an incredibly bright future in Penn State Blue and White.

DT Jordan Hill
Hard work is the only way to define Jordan Hill's recipe for a dominant season on the Penn State defensive line.  The Steelton, Pa., product is a blue-collar Nittany Lion who practiced just as hard as he played every Saturday afternoon.  Hill finished fourth on the team in tackles with 64, but his numbers are not indicative of the impact No. 47 had on opposing offenses.  A senior leader in every sense of the word, Hill set an example for every player on the team with his work ethic on the practice field.  Hill saved the best performance of his career for his last game.  The senior finished with 12 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in the overtime victory, including eight stops alone in the fourth quarter in overtime.  His effort on Senior Day epitomized what Hill was all about.  The senior leader was willing to do whatever was necessary to win every single time he pulled on the No. 47 jersey.

LB Michael Mauti - Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year
Words will never do Michael Mauti's impact on the Penn State football program justice.  Instrumental in helping keep the 2012 team in tact, Mauti was the heart and soul of the Nittany Lions this fall.  A leader in every sense of the word, Mauti willed the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 season.  On the field, the senior linebacker was superb, finishing with 96 tackles despite playing in just a one quarter during the final two weeks.  Mauti finished seventh in the Big Ten in tackles.  A fixture on several special teams units, as well, the Louisiana native was willing to do anything necessary to help the team win.  Mauti made a team-high three interceptions for the Nittany Lion defense, including a 99-yard return at Illinois.  He made a season-high 13 tackles against Ohio State.  Additionally, the senior linebacker had at least 10 stops in four games this season.  Mauti is a rare talent whose impact on the defense and program will be felt for many seasons to come.

Second Team All-Big Ten Honoree:
LB Gerald Hodges
Senior linebacker Gerald Hodges capped off a superb senior season as the team's top tackler.  His 109 tackles (9.1 per game) ranked fifth in the Big Ten.  A terrific athlete, Hodges evolved into one of the conference's top outside linebacker during the 2012 season.  The New Jersey native made 14 tackles on two different occasions - Ohio State and at Nebraska - in 2012.  Additionally Hodges tallied at least 10 stops in five different games.  To honor Michael Mauti, Hodges traded in his No. 6 jersey for a No. 42 on Senior Day.  The senior played an instrumental role on a Penn State defense that allowed just 19.1 points per game during the 2012 season.

All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
CB Adrian Amos
Adrian Amos was listed as a cornerback on the depth chart all season long, but the sophomore has the skill set to play just about anywhere on the defensive side of the ball.  A physical tackler with a nose for the football, Amos finished the season with 44 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a secondary-high two interceptions.

DE Deion Barnes
Redshirt freshman Deion Barnes has all the tools to become an elite defensive end for the Nittany Lions.  In 2012, Barnes finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten in sacks with 6.0.  The Philadelphia product made 26 tackles, including 10.0 hits for loss.  He also forced three fumbles.  Possessing great speed and quickness off the edge, Barnes posed a big challenge for opposing tackles every week.

OT Mike Farrell
A senior leader on the offensive line, Mike Farrell's strong 2012 season was a by product of a superb summer of workouts.  Farrell entered the season in the best shape of his career, and it led to a strong senior campaign for the Pittsburgh native at tackle.  Capable of playing on either side of the line, Farrell played a big role in the success of a Penn State offense that averaged 417.5 yards per game.  Additionally, Farrell helped Nittany Lion running back Zach Zwinak reach 1,000 rushing yards for the season, marking Penn State's eighth-straight season to accomplish that feat.

QB Matt McGloin
Senior quarterback Matt McGloin put together the finest statistical season from a quarterback in Penn State history.  The West Scranton native worked relentlessly in the offseason to master the philosophies behind Coach O'Brien's offense.  The effort paid off with a 3,271-yard record-breaking season.  McGloin led the Big Ten in yards per game (272.6), yardage (3,271) and touchdowns (24), while finishing with just five touchdowns.  He threw at least one touchdown pass in every game this season.  McGloin finishes his Penn State career first in touchdown passes (46), second in yardage (6,390), second in completions (513) and second in attempts (894).  The statistics speak for themselves, but McGloin's consistency, leadership, decision-making and game management were tremendous in 2012. 

CB Stephon Morris
Arguably the most improved player on the roster in 2012, Stephon Morris became a consistent force in the Penn State secondary.  A skilled man-to-man coverage player, Morris was the leader of the defensive backfield for the 2012 campaign.  Morris made 60 tackles, leading all players in the secondary.  He made 5.0 tackles for loss and broke up five passes.

DE Sean Stanley
Senior defensive end Sean Stanley is a quiet leader, but his game speaks loud and clear.  Stanley finished his final season in blue and white with 35 tackles, 9.5 hits for loss and 4.0 sacks.  When needed, the Rockville, Md., native dropped back in coverage from his end position.  A starter in 10 games, Stanley was a consistent force for the defensive line throughout the 2012 season.

RB Zach Zwinak
Sophomore Zach Zwinak's season started with three total carries in the first three games.  His season ended with 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.  The physical sophomore back started in just the last four games, but played an integral role on the Nittany Lion offense in 2012.  The Maryland native finished the season with four-straight 134-plus yard performances, and he had six 100-yard efforts in his last eight games.  A downhill runner, Zwinak was a punishing player to opposing defenses.  He is the fifth Penn State player to rush for 1,000 yards since 2005 and the 14th different player to accomplish the feat.

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Saturday's Senior Day clash with Wisconsin was a microcosm of Penn State's 2012 season.

The Nittany Lions were knocked to the mat early, rebounded and then battled to a dramatic overtime victory.  Everyone on the roster wanted to see a comfortable victory on Saturday afternoon, but it would not have been the proper way for the senior class to go out.

This group of 31 players defined what it means to be resilient.  An easy win over Wisconsin would not have done the group's Penn State journey justice.

Wisconsin wasted little time scoring twice in the first quarter, and the Nittany Lions did not lead until the 13:32 mark in the fourth quarter when Jesse James raced 41 yards on a crisp fourth-down throw from Matt McGloin.  The Badgers answered with a touchdown in the final minute, but senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill was not going to let his team lose.

Battling a sore knee, Hill was unstoppable in the fourth quarter and overtime on Saturday afternoon.  His career has been marked by big plays in the center of the defensive line, but Saturday was, without question, Hill's finest hour in a Penn State uniform.

"It was a storybook ending," Hill said.  "It was a perfect ending to a bad beginning.  I felt the whole game it really told the story about what we went through all year, being knocked down early and being able to get back up."

Hill was unblockable in the fourth quarter and overtime.  He finished with a career-high 12 tackles on Saturday. Eight of his tackles and three tackles for loss occurred in the fourth quarter and overtime, alone.

"It's just hard to put into words what Jordan Hill's meant to this team," head coach Bill O'Brien said.  "He just plays so hard.  He's an excellent football player.  He plays with great leverage, great hands.  He's a phenomenal kid off the field.  He's great in the locker room.  There's nothing that you can say bad about him.  His personal story is unbelievable and I just wish we had him for longer."

The Steelton, Pa., native is a blue collar football player who always wore his emotions on the sleeves of his No. 47 jersey.  Hill never took a play off in his career at Penn State - not at practice and not in a game.  He is a model for defensive line coach Larry Johnson to use in his film room forever.  Anytime a future Penn State defensive lineman wants to see how hard he needs to play, Johnson will show a tape of Hill.

Hill's effort on Saturday was a performance for the ages.  He did whatever was necessary to win.

"It means the world for the senior class and for this 2012 team," Hill said.

Hill and the senior class will go down as a group of remarkable players who stuck with Penn State during its toughest days.  The final chapter for the 2012 season is one that will be remembered for a very long time.  It was a chapter Hill and the 2012 football team earned and deserved.

"I want it to go down in history, not for the wins but for the character of all our guys and everything that we've been through and how to overcome stuff when you get knocked down," Hill said.


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