University Park, Pa. — Penn State co-captain Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J.) has been named the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Nittany Lion football team.
Brackett was presented the Outstanding Senior Player Award to highlight the State College Quarterback Club's annual banquet honoring the Nittany Lion football team. A crowd of nearly 1,000 packed the main ballroom at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel to honor 18 seniors and the 2010 squad.
The 6-2, 242-pound Brackett came to Penn State as a quarterback but has emerged as a reliable and productive receiver and blocker. This season he ranks second on the team in receptions (37), receiving yardage (497) and touchdown receptions (5). He is second on team to Derek Moye in receptions (37), yardage (497) and touchdown catches (5). Brackett and Moye have made at least one reception in every game.
A three-sport standout at Lawrence High School, Brackett set career-highs with eight receptions for 98 yards, including 20 and 22-yard touchdown catches, in the season opening win over Youngstown State. He made five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown in the win over Indiana and also made touchdown catches in wins over Northwestern and Minnesota. Brackett hauled in a career-long 49-yard catch at Iowa to set-up a field goal.
Brackett has served as president of Penn State's Uplifting Athletes Chapter the past two years and has been one of primary organizers of Penn State Lift for Life, raising nearly $200,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association and kidney cancer patients. Penn State's 2010 Big Ten Sportsmanship recipient, Brackett was named Academic All-Big Ten four times. He is on schedule to earn his second degree, in economics, in this month, having completed his marketing degree in 2009.
In addition to the player awards (see below), former Nittany Lion All-American Curt Warner was presented the Alumni Athlete Award. A Penn State letterman from 1979-82, he graduated from Penn State owning 42 school records, in including the career rushing mark with 3,398 yards, which was broken by senior Evan Royster this season. Warner, who was instrumental in Penn State winning the 1982 National Championship, was inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame last year
The other 2010 State College Quarterback Club award winners were:
- John Bruno, Jr. Memorial Award (outstanding member of special teams) - senior placekicker Collin Wagner (State College);
- Ridge Riley Award (senior for "sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and friendship") - senior linebacker Chris Colasanti (Leonard, Mich.);
- Richard Maginnis Memorial Award (outstanding offensive lineman) - senior guard Stefen Wisniewski (Bridgeville);
- Robert B. Mitinger, Jr. Award (senior who exhibits courage, character and social responsibility) - Senior wide receiver (Manheim);
- Outstanding Walk-on Award (walk-on player who exemplifies total commitment, loyalty, hard work and courage) - senior tight end Jonathan Stewart (Irwin);
- The Nittany Lion Club Academic Achievement Award (senior with highest GPA) was presented to Stefen Wisniewski, who this year became the first Penn State football student-athlete to be selected a three-time ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-American. Owner of a 3.91 grade point average in secondary education, he earned first team accolades in 2009 and 2010 and second team honors in 2008.
Penn State will clash with Florida in the 25th Outback Bowl at 1:00 p.m. on New Year's Day at Raymond James Stadium (65,657) in Tampa, Fla. Coach Joe Paterno's squad will be meeting a Southeastern Conference opponent in a bowl game for the third time in the past six years and will be seeking its fifth bowl victory since 2005.
The Nittany Lions will be making their 37th post-season trip under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in bowl wins (24) and appearances. Paterno will be taking a team to a 25th New Year's bowl game, having compiled a superlative 17-7 mark. Penn State is 3-0 in the Outback Bowl, beating Tennessee in the 2007 contest in its last appearance.
For Outback Bowl ticket information, go to www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets. Tickets also are available by calling 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.