UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., June 29, 2006 - All-America linebacker Paul Posluszny (Aliquippa) leads the list of five Nittany Lions that have been named to the watch lists for the Bednarik and Maxwell Awards and the Outland Trophy.

A consensus All-American last season, Posluszny won the 2005 Bednarik Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player, in addition to capturing the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. A first team Academic All-American, Posluszny led Penn State with 116 tackles last season and has 256 career stops, needing 88 to pass Greg Buttle and become the school's career leader. Posluszny is Penn State's first two-time team captain since Mike Reid and Steve Smear in 1969.

Posluszny is joined on the Bednarik Award Watch List by senior linebacker Tim Shaw (Livonia, Mich.) and junior linebacker Dan Connor (Wallingford). Shaw is a two-year starter who recorded 76 tackles last season, including 4 1/2 sacks. A May graduate, the Academic All-America candidate also forced two fumbles, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Connor and Shaw were tied for fourth on the team with 76 stops. Also a two-year starter, Connor recorded 5 1/2 tackles for losses, had eight pass break-ups, and returned one of Shaw's fumble hits 18 yards for a score at Illinois.

All the Nittany Lions' linebackers return from last year's top 10 defense and The Sporting News ranks the group the nation's No. 1 linebacker unit.

Sophomore wide receiver Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) is on the Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Award is presented to the nation's top player. Seven Penn State players have won the Maxwell, more than any other school, with tailback Larry Johnson the last honoree in 2002. Williams was having a fabulous freshman season when he suffered a broken arm at Michigan, sidelining him for the final five games. The 2004 national high school player of the year, Williams averaged 11.7 yards on his 57 touches last year, which included 22 catches for 289 yards and one touchdown, two rushing touchdowns and a 21.1 kickoff return average.

The Sporting News has rated the Nittany Lions' receivers No. 2 in the nation. Junior Terrell Golden (9-210-1) and sophomores Deon Butler (37-691-9) and Jordan Norwood (32-422-0) will join Williams to form one of the nation's most athletic and dynamic wideout units.

Senior tackle Levi Brown (Norfolk, Va.) is among the top candidates for the Outland Trophy, which is presented to the nation's top offensive or defensive lineman by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Brown, a co-captain with Posluszny, has started 34 of the last 35 games and was a second team All-American in 2005. Brown, who graduated last December in 3 1/2 years, was instrumental in Penn State leading the Big Ten in scoring (35.2 ppg) and ranking second in rushing (233.1 ypg) in conference games last season.

Entering his 41st season as head coach, Joe Paterno's squad returns 34 letterwinners and 11 starters from last year's 11-1 team that captured the Big Ten and FedEx Orange Bowl titles. Penn State opens its 120th season on September 2, as the Nittany Lions host Akron, the 2005 Mid-American Conference champion, at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium.