Penn State football announces spring award winners at Blue-White game
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State football announced its spring award winners on Saturday at halftime of the Blue-White game.
Each year, the Lions coaching staff picks standout members of the roster who exemplified key traits during the team’s 15 practices. Here are the 2022 honorees.
Jim O’Hora award winner goes to a Penn State veteran
The Jim O’Hora award winner was Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
A news release says that “The defensive award is named in honor of Jim O’Hora, a long-time Penn State assistant coach who was a member of the coaching staff for 31 years. Loyalty and attitude especially characterized Jim O’Hora.” It was first presented in 1977.
Brown is a logical choice. He’s a leader of the defense and the best safety on the team.
Who was the Red Worrell award winner?
The Red Worrell award goes to ” the offensive player who has best demonstrated exemplary conduct, loyalty, interest, attitude and improvement during spring practice.” It was first awarded in 1958. It’s named after “the late Red Worrell, a high school All-American from Centerville HS who was tragically electrocuted in an accident after an exceptional season on the 1957 Nittany Lion freshman team.”
Penn State picked likely first-team offensive tackle Olu Fashanu for the Worrell award this year. There were many candidates for this honor. Fashanu beating out them all says good things for the Penn State offensive line heading into the summer.
Special teams award goes to a punter
James Franklin added the special teams award when he came to Penn State.
This year’s winner was punter Barney Amor. He appears to be the top option at the position coming out of the spring. However, he will have to battle incoming freshman Alex Bacchetta to keep the job in the fall. Amor transferred into the Lions program from Colgate.
Penn State picks pair for Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award
Penn State picked two players, one on offense and one on defense, for the Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award.
According to a news release, the recipients must “consistently follow through with their responsibilities in all facets of the football program and do so in exemplary manner. This includes academic pursuits, off-season preparation, in-season commitment, demeanor and community service.”
This year’s winners were tight end Tyler Warren and defensive end Nick Tarburton.
Stay tuned to Blue-White Illustrated for more spring game coverage. Penn State welcomed a big group of recruits to campus and practiced for about two hours on a sun-splashed day here at Beaver Stadium.
