UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher and redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. were named to the Bronko Naguriski Trophy watch list on Tuesday. Mustipher was also selected for the Outland Trophy watch list.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club, recognizes the best defensive player in college football.
The Outland Trophy is given to the best interior lineman, offensive or defensive, in college football.
PJ Mustipher · Sr+ · DT · 6-4 · 321 · Owings Mills, Md. · McDonogh School
- Has appeared in 40 career games at Penn State, making 16 starts.
- Named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media in 2021.
- Made 21 tackles (16 solo) to go with three tackles for loss and a sack in six games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Iowa.
- Posted seven tackles and aone tackle for loss at Wisconsin (9/4/21).
- Earned the team's Ridge Riley Memorial Award.
- Was a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award last season.
- Selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2020.
- Tallied 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup in 2020.
Joey Porter, Jr. · R-Jr. · CB · 6-2 · 198 · Bakersfield, Calif. · North Allegheny (Pa.)
- Also represented on Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists.
- Has appeared in 25 career games, making 21 starts, as a Nittany Lion.
- Named third team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media in 2021.
- Finished the 2021 season with 51 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and four pass breakups.
- Recorded first career interception against Indiana (10/2/21).
- Made a career-high nine tackles against Illinois (10/23/21).
- Selected third team All-Big Ten by the media and honorable mention by the coaches in 2020.
- Notched 33 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and four pass breakups in 2020.
The five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy and three finalists for the Outland Trophy will be named in November. Both winners will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually since 1993, is named in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski played for the Chicago Bears after his college career. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Hall of Fame.
The Outland Trophy, created in 1946, is named in honor of Dr. John Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s.
Penn State Football Recognized on 2022 Preseason Watch Lists
Ji'Ayir Brown: Jim Thorpe Award
Sean Clifford: Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award
Theo Johnson: Mackey Award
Keyvone Lee: Doak Walker Award
PJ Mustipher: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy
Joey Porter Jr.: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy
Juice Scruggs: Rimington Trophy
Chris Stoll: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Brenton Strange: Mackey Award
Mitchell Tinsley: Biletnikoff Award
Parker Washington: Biletnikoff Award
For more information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new season tickets for the 2022 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
More than 5,300 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2022 campaign.