Week 10 Awards

In case it wasn't made clear already, Penn State is going to a bowl game again!  We're not out of the woods yet, though, because how the Nittany Lions play over the next two weeks will go a long way towards determining which bowl game we're going to.  Personally, I'm hoping for the Pinstripe Bowl because it's close.  Anyway, time to roll out some awards!

With the way the season was going, I didn't think a RB would ever get an award.  Then we played Temple.  That's why this week, the Beast Mode Award goes to Akeel Lynch.  He had a season high 130 yds on 18 carries and threw in a TD for good measure.  I'm really hoping that the success of our RBs had something to do with the return of Smith and Dieffenbach to the offensive line.  If so, maybe there's hope for these guys over the next 3 games (yes 3, because we're going to a bowl game!).  If, however, it was just a fluke, we could be in trouble.

This week's Transformer Award goes to DT Austin Johnson because he needed to be recognized and I already gave away the Beast Mode Award.  Johnson had an outstanding game recording 4 tackles, 1 for a loss, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery!  The 313 lb monster has been the perfect compliment to the undersized, yet agile Anthony Zettel, and the two have wreaked havoc on opposing RBs en route to the #1 rushing defense in the country!  Oh, and he's only a sophomore.

When you have the second youngest team in college football, finding an outstanding freshmen is fairly easy.  This week, the Matrix Award goes to CB Christian Campbell.  Starting in place of the injured Trevor Williams, Campbell recorded his first of what we hope to be many interceptions in his career as a Nittany Lion.  He also makes an impact on special teams as a gunner, helping to vastly improve our coverage teams from a year ago.  Keep up the good work rookie!

In a first on the blog, I'm doubling up on the In Disguise Award this week and giving it to both Adrian Amos and Jesse Della Valle.  The pair combined for 5 tackles and 2 INTs against the Owls.  While Zettel and Hull get most of the attention, these two senior safeties have quietly led a vastly improved unit that's been through it all.  Amos, a four year starter and the most veteran player on the entire Penn State roster, was a highly touted recruit who immediately started.  During the O'Brien years, Amos bounced back and forth between safety and corner, allowing a young crop of DBs to grow up.  Della Valle, meanwhile, didn't have nearly as much hype coming into college as Amos.  But he paid his dues and worked his tail off.  Now he's become a leader in the secondary while simultaneously taking on starting duties as the team’s punt returner.

Finally, the Megatron Award goes to Temple LB Tyler Matakevich.  My friend Josh warned us about him, and sure enough, he had a monster game.  13 tackles, 2 for a loss, a sack and an interception... those sound like Mike Hull statistics!  I'm not too proud to recognize talent when I see it, and this guy has it.

Ok, that will do it for Temple week.  Only 2 games left before the bowl game!  Check out my Facebook page and give it a like.  Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus, and as always, go State!