Pigskin Club selects Posluszny as defensive player of the year

-Courtesy of Penn State University

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.— Paul Posluszny, Penn State’s career tackle leader, has been selected the NCAA Defensive Player of the Year by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C.

Posluszny is the 2005 and ’06 Bednarik Award winner, presented to the nation’s top defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club. The 2005 Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker, he also was a finalist for the 2006 Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Awards and the Lott Trophy.

A 2006 Associated Press and Walter Camp Football Foundation first team All-American, Posluszny joins Dennis Onkotz (1968-69), Shane Conlan (1985-86) and LaVar Arrington (1998-99) as Nittany Lion linebackers that have earned first team All-America accolades twice.

Posluszny again was the steely-eyed guiding force in helping the Penn State defense finish 2006 ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing (87.5 ypg, 7th), scoring (14.4 ppg, 9th), total defense (284.5 ypg, 15th) and pass efficiency defense (105.9 rating, 14th) and sacks (40, T-sixth).

A starter in the last 37 games, Posluszny is the first Nittany Lion to lead the team in tackles three times and to post three 100-tackle seasons. The tough and tenacious player led Penn State with 116 tackles (69 solo), which ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten, and had 9.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and four pass breakups.

The Aliquippa native led Penn State in tackles eight times this season, including each of the last three regular season games. He is one of six Nittany Lions to receive All-Big Ten honors three times.