July 19, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior quarterback Trace McSorley (Ashburn, Va.) claimed a spot on two watch lists today, landing among the candidates for the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented to the nation's top quarterback based on his accomplishments on and off the field. Additionally, head coach James Franklin was among the 19 candidates on the Dodd Trophy watch list for the nation's top coach.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Todd Blackledge (1982) and Kerry Collins (1994) are the Nittany Lions that have claimed the Davey O'Brien Award.
The Golden Arm Award is presented at the end of each football season and the winner is selected based on his accomplishments both on and off the field. Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. The Golden Arm Award is named in honor of Johnny Unitas, who was an 18-year veteran of the NFL and played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.
The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity ââ'¬" the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy. The award, which was established in 1976, honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did coach Bobby Dodd's teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
McSorley, who is also on the Maxwell Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists, was also a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the conference's coaches and media, while also being named the Big Ten's Breakout Player of the Year by Athlon Sports and the Maxwell Football Club's Bryan Westbrook Tri-State Player of the Year. He earned the Grange-Griffin Most Valuable Player award as MVP of the Big Ten Championship game after throwing for a Big Ten Championship game-record 384 yards and four touchdowns. McSorley turned in one of the top quarterback campaigns in program history, breaking the Penn State season record for passing yards (3,614), passing touchdowns (29) and total offense records (3,979). McSorley threw TD passes to 10 different receivers, marking the first time since 1971 a Penn State quarterback found 10-plus pass catchers for scores. He has thrown a touchdown in a school-record 15 consecutive games.
Franklin was named the 2016 Sporting News National Coach of the Year. He is the second Penn State head coach to win the honor, joining Joe Paterno, who claimed the award in 2005. Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to their first Big Ten Championship since 2008 and fourth overall (1994, 2005, 2008). He led the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten East title, its second divisional title (2011). Franklin led the Lions to a No. 5 ranking in the CFP and a No. 7 rank in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls, the highest ranking for the Nittany Lions since 2009. With an 11-3 record, Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to their sixth 11-win season since Penn State joined the Big Ten. Penn State finished 8-1 in Big Ten play, marking the second eight-win conference season in program history to join the 1994 team that went 8-0.
Nine different Nittany Lions have been named to preseason watch lists. They include: junior running back Saquon Barkley ââ'¬" Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year); junior quarterback Trace McSorley ââ'¬" Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year), Wuerffel Trophy (college football's premier award for community service), Davey O'Brien Award (nation's top quarterback), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (nation's top quarterback based on his accomplishments on and off the field); senior safety Marcus Allen ââ'¬" Lott IMPACT Trophy (National Defensive of the Year on and off the field), Bednarik Award (National Defensive of the Year), Nagurski Trophy (National Defensive of the Year), Thorpe Award (top defensive back); senior linebacker Jason Cabinda ââ'¬" Lott IMPACT Trophy (National Defensive of the Year on and off the field), Bednarik Award (National Defensive of the Year), Nagurski Trophy (National Defensive of the Year), Butkus Award (top linebacker); senior tight end Mike Gesicki ââ'¬"Mackey Award (top tight end); senior linebacker Brandon Smith ââ'¬" Allstate AFCA Good Works; senior kicker Tyler Davis ââ'¬" Lou Groza Award (top kicker); sophomore punter Blake Gillikin ââ'¬" Ray Guy Award (top punter); head coach James Franklin ââ'¬" Bobby Dodd Trophy (nation's top coach).
The Nittany Lions' home schedule features a trio of non-conference games, including Pitt's first visit to Beaver Stadium since 1999. The Nittany Lions open the season against Akron (Sept. 2; noon) and face Pitt (Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m.) and Georgia State (Sept. 16) to close out a three-game homestand to start the year. In Big Ten play, Penn State welcomes Indiana (Sept. 30), Michigan (Oct. 21), Rutgers (Nov. 11; noon - Homecoming) and Nebraska (Nov. 18) to Happy Valley. Nearly 8,900 new season tickets have been sold for the 2017 Penn State football season presented by PSECU. The public single-game ticket sale opens Tuesday, July 11. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2017 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.