STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Award season is in full swing and the first accolade Saquon Barkley has picked up on the awards circuit is first-team All Big Ten selection as a kick returner.
The Lions' star running back returned two kicks for touchdowns this season, including a 98-yarder against Indiana and a 97-yarder against Ohio State. Barkley is the first Penn State player to to be named a Big Ten return specialist since the award was introduced in 2015. While this certainly won't be the last honor for Barkley, and Heisman finalists will be announced Monday night, the accolade was part of the conference's three day rollout of post-season awards.
Joining Barkley with Big Ten honors was punter Blake Gillikin, a second-team All Big Ten honoree by both the coaches and the media. Punt returner DeAndre Thompkins, who was the first Penn State player to return a punt for a touchdown since Derrick Williams did so in 2008, was a second-team All Big Ten return specialist by the coaches and third team selection by the media.
The conference also released their defensive selections, which for Penn State was highlighted by senior safety Marcus Allen. Allen was a first-team honoree by the coaches and a second-team selection by the media. With 65 tackles, good for second best on the team, and two forced fumbles, Allen is the first Penn State safety to take home first-team honors since Anthony Scirrotto did so in 2008.
Other Nittany Lions honored included:
• LB Jason Cabinda (second team coaches, honorable mention media)
• CB Amani Oruwariye (second team coaches and media)
• DE Shareef Miller (third team - media, honorable mention - coaches)
• CB Grant Haley (honorable mention coaches and media)
• S Troy Apke (honorable mention media)
• CB Christian Campbell (honorable mention coaches and media)
• DT Curtis Cothran (honorable mention coaches)
• DT Parker Cothren (honorable mention media)
Senior linebacker Brandon Smith was Penn State's honoree for the Big Ten's sportsmanship award, which is given to one player on each team.