PFF Spotlights Penn State on All-Big Ten Teams
Eleven Penn State Nittany Lions, including their quarterback who has yet to start a game, made Pro Football Focus' preseason All-Big Ten teams, signaling the high expectations for the program this season.
Three Lions — offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, defensive end Chop Robinson and cornerback Kalen King— made PFF's first team, which is dominated by Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. Thirteen of the 26 first-team players, including specialists, are from those three schools. Penn State landed two players on the second team and six on the third team, including sophomore quarterback Drew Allar.
Allar and receiver Dante Cephas, both listed on the third team, were Penn State's two most intriguing preseason nominees. Allar completed 35 of 60 passes in 10 reserve appearances for the Lions last season, while Cephas played at Kent State. Another unique pick was linebacker Abdul Carter, who made the second team. PFF listed only two linebackers on its first-team defense, instead adding Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean as a flex player. Carter, however, enters his sophomore season as one of the Big Ten's most promising linebackers. He led Penn State in sacks (6.5) as a freshman.
Ohio State led all Big Ten teams with 15 preseason honorees. Michigan had 14, including six on the first team. Here are Penn State's nominees to the Pro Football Focus Preseason All-Big Ten Team.
First Team
- Left Tackle Olu Fashanu
- Defensive end Chop Robinson
- Defensive Kalen King
Second Team
- Running Back Nicholas Singleton
- Linebacker Abdul Carter
Third Team
- Quarterback Drew Allar
- Receiver Dante Cephas
- Tight End Theo Johnson
- Right Tackle Caedan Wallace
- Linebacker Curtis Jacobs
- Defensive Back Johnny Dixon
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