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Senior linebacker Dan Connor earned the Chuck Bednarik Award - presented to the nation's top defensive player - in 2007, giving Penn State three consecutive recipients of the prestigious honor. Penn State's 14th two-time first team All-American, Connor joined "Linebacker U" All-Americans Paul Posluszny (2005, '06) and LaVar Arrington (1999) as Bednarik Award winners. Posluszny and Arrington also were recipients of the Butkus Award, presented to the nation's top linebacker. Since starting play in the Big Ten in 1993, Penn Staters have captured the Bednarik, Biletnikoff, Butkus, Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. Five Nittany Lions earned first team All-Big Ten accolades in 2007.

Penn State takes great pride in the academic success of its football student-athletes. According to NCAA data released in October 2007, Penn State Football's 76 percent Graduation Success Rate was No. 3 in the nation among teams ranked in the final 2007 USA Today Coaches Top 25. The Nittany Lions earned the highest GSR among the eight Big Ten teams that played in a 2007-08 bowl game. Junior Gerald Cadogan was selected a 2007 first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American, giving Penn State at least one Academic All-American in each of the past six years and 36 total under Coach Joe Paterno. During the Fall 2007 semester, 36 squad members posted at least a 3.0 grade point average, with 12 earning Dean's List recognition by posting a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Penn State is one of the nation's biggest draws on TV and at gate. The Nittany Lions have appeared on TV in 164 of their last 166 games through the 2007 season. A Penn State contest owns the top four spots among the highest rated and highest viewed Big Ten football games all-time on ESPN. ESPN's College Gameday has originated twice from Happy Valley in the past three seasons. The Nittany Lions have the Big Ten's largest traveling media contingent, with more than 15 newspapers, with a combined Sunday circulation approaching three million, traveling to each game, in addition to the 60-station Penn State Sports Network. The Big Ten Network debuted in August 2007 and was available in more than 30 million homes one month after launch, becoming the first cable or satellite network to reach 30 million homes in its first 30 days.

There were 30 former Nittany Lions on 2007 NFL active rosters, placing Penn State No. 10 nationally among schools in producing current NFL players. Ten former Lions were on 2007 NFL playoff teams, with Jay Alford and Kareem McKenzie earning a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants. Former Penn State standout Kyle Brady played in Super Bowl XLII with the New England Patriots. At least one Penn Stater has played in 38 of the 42 Super Bowls. More than 300 Nittany Lions have signed NFL contracts since Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966. The Hall of Fame coach has seen 232 of his players drafted by NFL squads. Thirty-one Lions have been NFL first round draft choices since 1966, including tackle Levi Brown (Arizona), who was the No. 5 overall pick in 2007.