One of the biggest advances for playing time this past spring was made by redshirt sophomore Miles Dieffenbach. A center during his initial two seasons in Happy Valley, the coaching staff moved Dieffenbach to left guard and he flourished, earning a spot with the first-team offensive line in the Blue-White game. He and Mark Arcidiacono likely will battle for the position when training camp commences in August. The determined Dieffenbach brings very good skills, size and work ethic to the O-Line, which will feature just one returning starter in center Matt Stankiewitch. The former Fox Chapel Area High School All-American has the ability to play the center and guard positions should the situation dictate. A Dean's List student, Dieffenbach owned a 3.53 grade-point average after the spring semester. He is a potential candidate for Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America® as well as Academic All-Big Ten honors this year. Dieffenbach is among 16 Nittany Lion returnees from Western Pennsylvania.
2011 Sophomore Season
Dieffenbach's hard work and improvement did not result in any playing time, with four senior starters on the offensive line.
2010 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Dieffenbach was a four-year starter under Coach Bryan Deal at Fox Chapel Area HS. He was rated the nation's No. 1 prep center by ESPNU, No. 3 by Scout.com and No. 4 by Rivals.com. He was an Under Armour All-American and first-team all-state selection. He was named first-team All-WPIAL and all-conference. Dieffenbach did not allow a sack his junior or senior years, and tallied 45 tackles and five sacks. He was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22 and was on the winning squad in the 2010 Under Armour All-America game.
Personal
Full name is George Miles Dieffenbach. He is the son of George and Emma Dieffenbach. He has an older sister, Sarah, who played tennis at the University of Pittsburgh where their father has been the head coach since 1981. His grandparents, Fred and Shirley Dieffenbach, are Penn State graduates, as well as an aunt and a great aunt. Dieffenbach enjoys fishing during his free time. He is enrolled in the College of Communications and owned a 3.57 grade-point average following the spring semester. Born July 9, 1991 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
