Barkley and Gesicki headline All-Big Ten Offensive team
UNIVERSITY PARK — Junior running back Saquon Barkley collects his second-straight first-team All-Big Ten award, while senior tight end Mike Gesicki garners first-team all-conference accolades from the media and second team honors from the coaches to lead the Penn State All-Big Ten contingent on offense.
Joining Barkley and Gesicki on the All-Big Ten offensive team are junior quarterback Trace McSorley (second team — coaches & media), senior wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (second team – coaches; third team – media), sophomore offensive lineman Ryan Bates (third team – coaches & media) and sophomore wide receiver Juwan Johnson (honorable mention – coaches & media).
Saquon Barkley, RB, Jr./Jr., 5-11, 230, Coplay, Pa./Whitehall
-First-team all-conference running back.
-Second-straight first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
-Marks the third all-conference honor of his career after first team bid in 2016 and second team berth in 2015.
-Is just the second running back in Penn State history to earn back-to-back first team honors, joining Curtis Enis (1996 & 1997).
-First-team All-Big Ten return specialist.
-Is the first Penn State player to be named all-conference return specialist (added in 2015).
-Selected as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award.
-Named a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
-Is 1-of-5 student-athlete in the FBS with four all-purpose plays of 80 yards or longer in 2017.
-Ranks No. 2 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (179.50).
-Is the 24th FBS player to produce 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season since 2000.
-Sits tied for No. 5 nationally and leads the Big Ten lead in total touchdowns (21).
-Is tied for No. 7 nationally and leads the Big Ten in scoring per game (10.5).
-Ranks No. 10 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns (16).
-Owns nine games with 200-plus all-purpose yards in his career (four in 2016, five in 2017).
-His six Player of the Week honors in 2017 (four offensive, two special teams) are the most in a single season in Big Ten history.
-Ranks No. 2 on the single season all-purpose yards list with 2,154 yards in 2017, just the second player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 all-purpose yard mark (Larry Johnson, 2,655; 2002).
-Set the single game all-purpose yards mark with 358 at Iowa (9/23/17), accounting for 211 yards rushing, 94 yards receiving and 53 yards on kickoff return, topping Curt Warner’s previous mark of 341 vs. Syracuse in 1981.
-Earned Midseason All-America honors from The All-American, Associated Press, CBSSports.com, ESPN.com, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated (RB & all-purpose)and USA Today.
-Named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Barrett, OSU) on Sept. 4 after rushing for 174 yards and totaling 246 all-purpose yards vs. Akron.
-Earned Big Ten Rose Bowl Player of the Week on Sept. 5 after his effort vs. Akron in the season opener.
-Selected to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll on Sept. 11 after posting 183-all purpose yards and two touchdowns vs. Pittsburgh.
-Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25 after breaking the school record for all-purpose yards (358) vs. Iowa.
-Graded out as the top offensive player in the FBS during week four by Pro Football Focus to earn a spot on the National Team of the Week.
-The effort vs. Iowa also earned him Rose Bowl Big Ten Player of the Week and Maxwell Award Player of the Week, along with a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll and Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week.
-Garnered Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, along with earning a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll, on Oct. 23 after piling up 176 all-purpose yards vs. Michigan.
-Garnered Big Ten Player of the Week and a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after logging 224 all-purpose yards vs. Nebraska (11/18).
-Scored a touchdown in 15-straight games from Oct. 29, 2016-Oct. 28, 2017, which set the Penn State school record, passing Curtis Enis’ 14-game streak from 1996-97.
-Had a streak of nine-straight games with a rushing touchdown snapped vs. Georgia State, which was the longest streak by a Penn Stater since Larry Johnson had 11 in a row in 2002.
Mike Gesicki, TE/H, Sr./Sr., 6-6, 250, Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional
-First-team all-conference selection by the media and second-team All-Big Ten choice by the coaches.
-Earns second All-Big Ten honor of his career after an appearance on the second team (coaches & media) last season.
-Is the first Nittany Lion tight end to earn All-Big Ten first team accolades since Kyle Carter in 2012.
-Selected as one of three finalists for the Mackey Award.
-Ranks third among FBS tight ends in touchdown receptions (9).
-Ranks sixth among FBS tight ends in yards (501).
-Ranks second among FBS tight ends in receptions (51).
-Has at least one reception in 25-straight games.
-Of his 46 catches this season, 26 of them have gone for a first down or a touchdown.
-Ranks tied No. 19 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (9).
-Is tied for No 89 nationally and No. 6 in the Big Ten in receptions per game (4.3).
-Set the Penn State career receptions record for tight ends with his final catch vs. Pittsburgh, eclipsing Andrew Quarless’ 87 grabs from 2006-09.
-Surpassed Ted Kwalick’s 1,343 yards from 1966-68 for the most receiving yards by a tight end vs. Nebraska and has 1,419 yards in his career.
-Is No. 10 on the career receptions charts with 123 grabs.
-Sits No. 18 on Penn State’s career receiving yards chart with 1,419 yards.
-Became the 29th PSU
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