Thursday, December 06, 2007

Connor wins Bednarik Award

Penn State linebacker Dan Connor captured the 2007 Bednarik Award as the best collegiate defensive player in the nation.

It was the third straight year a Penn State linebacker won the award. Former Nittany Lions star Paul Posluszny captured the Bednarik Award the past two seasons.

Connor, a finalist for this award last year, leads Penn State and the Big Ten with 136 tackles, including 66 solo, for an 11.3 per game average that ranks No. 7 in the nation. He is also second on the team and 10th in the Big Ten with 14 tackles for a loss, and is second on the team and 10th in the conference with 6 1/2 sacks. He also has one interception, one fumble recovery and six pass break-ups.

The other finalists for the award were LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Dorsey has already captured two major honors, taking the Lombardi Award as the nation's top interior lineman and the Bronko Nagurski Award as the best defensive player in college football.
Despite being slowed for the last month of the season with a knee and back injuries, Dorsey has still managed to record 64 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for a loss and six sacks for a Tiger defense that ranks No. 3 in the nation in yards allowed.

Laurinaitis posted 103 tackles, 8 1/2 for a loss, with five sacks and two interceptions for the Buckeyes.

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