University Park, Pa. — Penn State wide receiver Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J.) is set to play in the inaugural Eastham Energy College All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 23.
The contest will be played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. and kick at 5:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET and televised by Fox College Sports (Comcast Ch. 264 in State College). Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports West and Fox Prime Ticket Southwest also will carry the contest.
Penn State’s Ollie Ogbu and Evan Royster are scheduled to play in the 86th East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4:00 p.m. on NFL Network.
Brackett is playing on the Stars team, which also includes Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber (Minnesota), Iowa’s Jeremiha Hunter, Auburn center Ryan Pugh and Illinois’ Nate Bussey, Eddie McGee and Anthony Santella.
The 6-6 Brackett was the recipient of Penn State’s 2010 Outstanding Senior Player Award and Big Ten Sportsmanship recipient. During his senior season, he ranked second on the team in receptions (39), receiving yardage (525) and touchdown receptions (5), making at least one reception in every game. A three-sport standout at Lawrence High School, Brackett set career-highs with eight receptions for 98 yards, including 20 and 22-yard touchdown catches, in the season opening win over Youngstown State.
A 2010 co-captain, Brackett has served as president of Penn State’s Uplifting Athletes Chapter the past two years and has been one of primary organizers of Penn State Lift for Life, raising nearly $200,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association and kidney cancer patients. Brackett was named Academic All-Big Ten four times. He earned his second degree, in economics, this past December, having completed his marketing degree in 2009.
The Eastham Energy College All-Star Game will benefit local charities, including Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, which was created to build homes for wounded veterans; and Native American Connections, an Arizona-based non-profit organization that addresses the needs of at-risk and homeless youth.
The Nittany Lions are 58-19 (75.3) since the start of the 2005 season, tied with Oregon for the nation’s No. 12 winning percentages over the past six years. Led by Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno, Penn State has won 60 of its last 79 games overall, dating to the final two contests of the 2004 season.
Penn State returns 16 starters for the 2011 season, (7 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 17 players that have starting experience. The Nittany Lions open their 125th season Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State in Beaver Stadium and Alabama visits Happy Valley on Sept. 10 for the first time since 1989.