University Park, Pa. — Penn State senior placekicker Kevin Kelly (Langhorne) became the Big Ten Conference's all-time kick scoring leader in Saturday's 46-17 thumping of Michigan and has been honored by the Big Ten Conference for his efforts.
Kelly connected on three of four field goal attempts and all five of his PAT kicks to earn Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week accolades. The conference honor is the first for Kelly, who becomes the sixth Nittany Lion to be recognized by the Big Ten this season.
During the momentum-changing third quarter against the Wolverines, Kelly connected on a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17. Following Jared Odrick's tie-breaking sack in the end zone for a safety, Kelly's PAT after Daryll Clark's one-yard touchdown run lifted him into the lead in Big Ten kick scoring with 368 points.
Kelly made two more field goals and two more PAT kicks to finish the game with 376 career kicking points, breaking the conference mark of 367 by Minnesota's Dan Nystrom and Iowa's Nate Kaeding. Kelly also averaged 67.2 yards on his nine kickoffs.
The former Neshaminy High School standout also is in range of the Big Ten career field goals record. Kelly has 70 career field goals, trailing only Ohio State's Mike Nugent (72) and Nystrom (71).
A Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award candidate, Kelly is Penn State's career scoring leader with 384 points, which includes a rushing touchdown at Michigan State in 2007 and a two-point conversion run at Michigan in 2005. He also owns school records for field goals made (70) and attempted (97).
For the season, Kelly leads the No. 3 Nittany Lions with 79 points, having connected on 12 of 14 field goals and all 43 of his PAT attempts. He is 2 of 3 from 50 yards or beyond. He is second in the Big Ten and No. 14 in the nation in overall scoring (9.9 ppg), leads the conference in kick scoring and is tied for No. 19 in the nation in field goals per game (1.50 avg.).
Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions are 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten. The No. 3 Nittany Lions visit No. 10 Ohio State (7-1, 4-0) Saturday for an 8 p.m. clash that will air on ABC, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com, the official Web site of Penn State Athletics.