UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill (Steelton, Pa.) and redshirt freshman tight end Kyle Carter (Bear, Del.) have been honored by the Big Ten Conference for their efforts in Penn State’s 38-14 win at Iowa on Oct. 20.
Hill was selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career, and Carter was named the conference’s Freshman of the Week for the first time.
Hill’s selection marks the fourth time in the past six weeks a Nittany Lion has been selected the conference’s top defensive player. Senior linebacker Michael Mauti earned the honor after wins over Navy (Sept. 15) and Illinois (Sept. 29) and senior linebacker Gerald Hodges was honored following the win over Northwestern (Oct. 6). Carter is the second Nittany Lion to earn Big Ten Freshman honors this season, joining defensive end Deion Barnes (Navy).
Coach Bill O’Brien’s Nittany Lions (5-2, 3-0) have won five straight games. Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium on Saturday to face No. 9 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0) for a 5:30 p.m. kick off and an all-stadium Penn State WhiteOut. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are the only unbeaten teams in the Big Ten Leaders Division.
On the watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award, Hill led another stellar Penn State defensive performance in the thumping of the Hawkeyes. Hill recorded a season-high nine tackles (seven solo), with 2.0 TFL, a sack for minus-nine yards and a quarterback hurry.
Hill led a Penn State defense that held Iowa to season-lows in total yards (209), rushing yards (20) and first downs (14). Led by Hill, the Nittany Lions forced three turnovers and limited the Hawkeyes to 2 of 12 on third down and only 21:52 in time of possession. The Iowa offense did not score until 4:11 was left in the game, with Penn State leading, 38-7.
For the season, Hill is fourth on the team with 37 tackles, is second with 4.0 tackles for loss and tied for second with 2.5 sacks. The former Steelton-Highspire High School standout also has one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Carter made his first career start in the win over Hawkeyes and responded by delivering a season-high 85 receiving yards and tying his season-high with six catches, all in the first half. He made a career-long 34-yard catch on a fourth down conversion in the first quarter to set-up Matt McGloin’s touchdown pass to Allen Robinson.
For the season, Carter is second on the team with 29 receptions for 364 yards (12.6) and one touchdown. The nation’s only freshman candidate for the John Mackey Award, the former William Penn High School standout is on pace to break the Penn State season tight end receptions record of 41, set by Andrew Quarless in 2009.
A limited number of tickets remain for the Ohio State game. Tickets also are available for Nittany Lions’ home games with Indiana (Nov. 17) and Wisconsin (Senior Day-Nov. 24). Ticket purchases and information is available at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets or fans can call 1-800-NITTANY (648-8269) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Pre-paid, single game parking passes for the general parking lots are also available for $10 at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets.
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