STATE COLLEGE, Pa; July 8, 2002 - Penn State defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy (Yonkers, N.Y.) has been selected a pre-season second team All-American by Football News.

In addition, The Sporting News lists Kennedy as the nation's No. 5 rated defensive tackle in its college football preview issue.

The 6-5, 330-pound Kennedy previously had been named to the 2002 Playboy All-America Football Team and a pre-season second team All-American by Lindy's and Athlon college football preview magazines.

A first team All-Big Ten selection last year, the standout fifth-year senior is a candidate for the Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy.

Kennedy had 51 tackles (30 solo) last year, including eight for minus-21 yards. The three-year starter also had 1.5 sacks in 2001 and a blocked field goal as well.

A prep All-American at Roosevelt High School, Kennedy had a career-high 10 tackles (eight of which were solo) with three tackles for loss at Iowa, despite missing most of the first half with back spasms. His blocked field goal with 2:55 to play in Penn State's game vs. Ohio State was critical as PSU held on to post a 29-27 win. That win made Joe Paterno the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I-A history.

Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions return 28 letterwinners and 17 starters for the 2002 season, which opens August 31 when the Nittany Lions host UCF at 12:10 p.m. Penn State will host an unprecedented eight home games this fall.