Who are the 2024 Penn State football spring award winners?
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State football announced its spring practice award winners during halftime of this year’s Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium. They highlight standouts on offense, defense, special teams, and also two players who showed exemplary commitment to the program. Here’s who took those honors in 2024.
Red Worrell Award (best player on offense): Penn State receiver Liam Clifford
Liam Clifford has been consistent throughout his time at Penn State. He has not perhaps had as big of a role as he might have liked so far. But, when he is on the field, he has consistent hands, can make plays in space, and is reliable as a blocker. Clearly, all of those facets, and surely some other ones, too, were on display throughout spring ball. Harrison “Trey” Wallace III is still the leader in the clubhouse to be the No. 1 wide receiver in the fall. But, Clifford is going to have a big role, too.
Jim O’Hora Award (best player on defense): Cornerback Audavion Collins
Penn State must replace its top three cornerbacks in 2024. It makes the emergence of Audavion Collins a nice spring surprise for the Nittany Lions. The second-year defender has been a buzzy player all spring as someone who has shown vast improvement and the type of abilities that could allow him to find a spot high atop the depth chart in position coach Terry Smith’s room. It’s one of the more fascinating rep-share decisions that will be faced by first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen this fall. Collins has made a case to earn as many as possible this spring.
Coaches’ Special Teams Award: Penn State punter Riley Thompson
The only person more thrilled than Riley Thompson about receiving two more years of eligibility from the NCAA was Penn State coach James Franklin. The Australian developed into a weapon throughout last season and has a chance to be one of the Big Ten’s best punters in 2024. He clearly put his hard work and improvement on display this spring, as he outshined a number of special teams returners and also some newcomers who are fighting for starting jobs, such as place kicker Ryan Barker.
Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award: Center Nick Dawkins and cornerback Cam Miller
Neither of these two picks is a surprise. Dawkins, who aims to start for the first time this fall, has long been a workout warrior who did a lot of dirty work behind the scenes on scout team. His dedication is paying off by the fact that he’s paved a path to first-team center reps. As for Miller, he’s a quiet and hard worker who listens to instructions and then follows through on them emphatically.
