UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State defensive end Deion Barnes (Philadelphia) has been selected to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America team, earning his sixth such recognition following a superlative redshirt freshman season.
Sporting News, CBSsports.com, Phil Steele’s College Football, FOXSports/Scout.com and CollegeFootballNews.com previously named Barnes a first-team Freshman All-American. Penn State tight end Kyle Carter (Bear, Del.), a first-team All-Big Ten selection, joined Barnes on the five Freshman All-America teams.
A standout at Northeast High School, Barnes was selected the Big Ten Thompson-Randel El Freshman of the Year. He also was the ESPN.com and BTN.com Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Barnes joined tailback Curtis Enis (1995) as Nittany Lions to be selected Freshman of the Year.
Barnes led Penn State with six sacks (minus-30), ranked sixth in the Big Ten, and with 10 tackles for loss, good for No. 13 in the conference. He was tied for fourth in the Big Ten with three forced fumbles. Playing in every game, Barnes made 26 tackles (14 solo) and had one pass breakup. Barnes was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after recording five tackles and a sack in Penn State’s 34-7 win over Navy. He made a season-high six tackles (four solo) and 3.0 TFL for minus-13 yards Nov. 10 at Legends Division champion Nebraska.
Led by first-year coach Bill O’Brien, the ESPN and Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year, the Nittany Lions posted an 8-4 overall mark and finished second in the Big Ten Leaders Division with a 6-2 record. Penn State won eight of its final 10 games, with the only losses coming against division winners Ohio State and Nebraska. In the season finale, the Nittany Lions beat eventual Big Ten champion Wisconsin, 24-21, in overtime.
In the final Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Nittany Lions were second among other teams receiving votes (27th overall).
Season tickets are available for the 2013 season. The Nittany Lions will host three teams that finished in the 2012 BCS Top 25: Michigan (Oct. 12-Homecoming), Nebraska (Nov. 23) and Kent State (Sept. 21). Purdue, Illinois, Virginia and Eastern Michigan also will visit Beaver Stadium next year.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, go to www.gopsusports.com or call 800-648-8269 (800-NITTANY) from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
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