Jan. 30, 2010

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 30, 2010 - A trio of Penn State standouts have accepted invitations to play in the Fourth Annual Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge on Saturday, February 6.

Linebacker Josh Hull (Millheim), tackle Dennis Landolt (Burlington, N.J.) and cornerback/kick returner A.J. Wallace (Waldorf, Md.), will play for The Nation squad, led by Howard Schnellenberger, head coach at Florida Atlantic. Kickoff is at 2:00 p.m. ET at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The game will be televised by CBS College Sports (Ch. 274 on Comcast in Centre Region).

Josh Hull

The trio of Nittany Lions playing in the game bring Penn State's total to seven players participating in this year's all-star contests. All-America defensive tackle Jared Odrick made a solo tackle, helping the victorious North hold the South to 30 rushing yards in Saturday's 61st Annual Senior Bowl. Punter Jeremy Boone, quarterback Daryll Clark and tight end Andrew Quarless helped the North win the 85th East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 23. Quarless made the game-winning touchdown catch with :06 left in the contest.

A two-year starter at middle linebacker, Hull was a 2009 second team All-Big Ten selection. He led Penn State and was No. 5 in the Big Ten with 116 tackles (8.9 avg.). The former Penns Valley High School standout recorded 8.5 tackles for loss, with two sacks for minus-14 yards, two interceptions and two pass break-ups. Hull made 10 or more tackles seven times this past season, with a career-high 13 hits three times. A two-time first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American, Hull graduated in December, earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Dennis Landolt

A 2009 first team All-Big Ten choice, Landolt was selected an Associated Press third team All-American. He started all 39 games the past three seasons, moving to left tackle this year after two seasons at right tackle. Landolt was instrumental in Penn State finishing second in the Big Ten in total offense (406.9 ypg) and allowing only 17 sacks in 13 games. He earned his second undergraduate degree this past December.

Wallace recorded 36 tackles (20 solo) this past season, with one tackle for loss He made a team-high three interceptions, including a diving pick in the win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. Wallace also had three pass break-ups. He made one of the biggest defensive plays of the season when he made the initial hit on Minnesota's Kevin Whaley on a fourth-and-goal running play from the Penn State one to preserve Penn State's 20-0 Homecoming win.

Among some of the other notable players participating in the Texas vs. The Nation game are: Jonathon Crompton (Tennessee), Trindon Holiday (LSU), Alex Joseph (Temple), Jammie Kirlew (Indiana) and Simoni Lawrence (Minnesota).

Coach Joe Paterno has seen more than 350 of his former players sign NFL contracts, with 239 players being drafted, including 32 first round choices. All-America defensive end Aaron Maybin was the No. 11 overall selection, by the Buffalo Bills, in the 2009 NFL Draft. All-America tackle Levi Brown was the No. 5 overall pick, by the Arizona Cardinals, in the 2007 NFL Draft.