UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The tenacious play of senior defensive tackle Devon Still (Wilmington, Del.) has been recognized with his selection to ESPN.com’s Mid-season All-America Team. One team was selected.
A candidate for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive player, Still was selected runner-up for ESPN.com’s Big Ten Mid-season Defensive Player of the Year earlier this week. Players from Big Ten teams filled three of the four defensive line spots on ESPN.com’s Mid-season All-America Team.
The 6-5, 310-pound Still has been a significant force as the anchor of Penn State’s talented defensive line. For the season, the co-captain ranks second in the Big Ten with nine tackles for loss (minus-46) and is tied for the team lead with two sacks. With 30 tackles, including 16 solos, Still ranks fifth among Nittany Lion defenders and has registered one fumble recovery.
Last Saturday, in Penn State’s 13-3 win over Iowa, Still recorded six tackles, with 1.5 for a loss and a sack for minus-12 yards, as the Nittany Lions held the Hawkeyes’ 35 points below their season average and to 253 yards, 169 below their season average entering the game.
Still headlines a Nittany Lion defense that is among the nation’s elite units, ranking in the top five nationally in four of the primary categories. Penn State is fourth in the nation in total defense (250.8 ypg), fifth in scoring (10.5 ppg), fifth in pass defense (157.7 ypg), and fourth in pass efficiency defense (89.77). The Lions also are 17th in rushing defense (93.2 ypg), having limited five of six opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground.
The Nittany Lions have held five of their initial six foes to 10 points or less for the first time since 1978.
Penn State (5-1, 2-0) hosts Purdue (3-2, 1-0) on Saturday in the teams’ first meeting since 2008 (15th overall) and first as members of the Big Ten Leaders Division. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Beaver Stadium for Penn State’s 92nd Homecoming game, which will be televised on the Big Ten Network and will also air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
Tickets are available for the Nittany Lions’ home contests with Purdue and unbeaten Illinois (Oct. 29). Tickets can be purchased at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or by calling 1-814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.