Oct. 29, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State senior linebacker Mike Hull (Canonsburg) has been added to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, an honor presented annually to the nation's defensive Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Hull also has been named the Reese's Senior Bowl Player of the Week after recording a career-high 19 tackles in the Nittany Lions double overtime clash with Ohio State.
A co-captain, Hull joins junior cornerback Jordan Lucas (New Rochelle, N.Y.) as the Nittany Lions on the Bednarik Award Watch List. Penn State football student-athletes have won the Chuck Bednarik Award four times - LaVar Arrington in 1999, Paul Posluszny in 2005 and 2006, and Dan Connor in 2007.
"Mike Hull is as good as I've ever been around," Penn State head coach James Franklin stated on October 29. "I don't know if I could find something that I would say in terms of his preparation and his demeanor that I would want more from. It's how he is in meetings or how he is out at practice; his focus, his attention to detail, his work-ethic, how coachable he is. From day one, he's embraced everything we've asked him to do as a teammate, as a leader, in the defensive scheme, in the defensive techniques."
Hull headlines a Nittany Lion defense that is among the naÂtion's elite units, ranking in the top 10 nationally in three of the primary categories. Penn State leads the Big Ten and is third nationally in rushing defense (83.4 ypg); third in the conference and seventh in FBS in total defense (284.7 ypg) and second in the Big Ten and ninth nationally in scoring defense (17.4 ppg). Penn State also leads the Big Ten and is 13th in FBS in red zone defense (70.8 pct.).
Hull was all over the field making plays against No. 13 Ohio State, recording a career-high 19 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss (minus-7) and an interception. The 19 tackles were the most by a Nittany Lion since Gerald Hodges had 19 hits against Illinois in 2011. Hull returned his fourth quarter interception 12 yards into Buckeye territory to set-up a touchdown to close the gap to three points. He was instrumental in helping hold the Buckeyes to 17 points and 256 yards in regulation, well below their season averages of 46.5 ppg and 533.8 ypg entering the clash.
The former Canon-McMillan High School standout recently was selected first-team Mid-season All-Big Ten by ESPN.com and Phil Steele's College Football. Hull leads the Big Ten and is sixth nationally in total tackles per game (83, 11.9 avg.). He leads the conference and is ninth nationally in solo stops per outing (47, 6.7 avg.). He has made 83 tackles (47 solo), with 7.0 TFL (minus-23), two sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and two pass break-ups.
Hull has led the Nittany Lions in tackles all seven games this season, including five double-digit performances. He has started the last 14 games and has made at least nine stops in 12 of his last 15 games. Hull is among the nine Nittany Lions who have graduated, earning a 3.30 grade-point average in finance last May.
The Chuck Bednarik Award was established in 1995 and is presented in honor of standout linebacker Chuck Bednarik, a member of both the College Football and NFL Halls of Fame.
The Nittany Lions host Maryland on Saturday at 12 p.m. for the first meeting between the old rivals since 1993. The teams will be playing for the 38th time, but the first time since 1992 in Beaver Stadium. The game will air on ESPN2, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com.
Tickets are available for Penn State's final three home games of the season: Nov. 1 vs. Maryland (All-University Day and THON Day); Nov. 15 vs. Temple (Military Appreciation Day/Seats For Soldiers) and the Nov. 29 Senior Day clash with No. 8 Michigan State. The kick times for the last two home games are to be determined.
Fans can purchase Penn State tickets at PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office, weekdays, 10 a.m-6 p.m. The Beaver Stadium Ticket Office, near Gate E, opens four hours before all home games.
Pre-paid single game parking passes for the general parking lots ($10) are also available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office prior to all home games.
Penn State Football is on Twitter (@PennStateFball) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/PSUFball).