University Park, Pa. -- A quartet of Penn Staters have accepted invitations to play in football all-star games this month.
Safety Andrew Guman, fullback Paul Jefferson, quarterback Zack Mills and linebacker Derek Wake will be playing in four different games, three of which are scheduled to be televised.
Guman will play in the 80th East-West Shrine Game, which will be played Saturday, Jan. 15 at SBC Park in San Francisco. The contest will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET and be televised by ESPN. A native of Allentown, Pa., Guman was a two-year starter and leader of a defense that allowed only 14 touchdowns in 11 games and ranked in the top 10 nationally in total, scoring and pass defense. Guman made 67 tackles (7.4 tpg), to rank third on team despite missing two games with a chest injury. He recorded 6.5 TFL for minus-22 yards, seven pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. Guman also earned first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors.
Jefferson will participate in the Seventh Villages Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Jan. 15. The contest will be played at The Villages Polo Stadium in The Villages, Fla. at 11:00 a.m. and will air on ESPN2. A product of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Jefferson played in every game with nine starts at fullback this past season. He served primarily as a blocking back and receiver and was selected an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly. Jefferson was tied for fifth on the team with 16 receptions for 106 yards, with a long catch of 20 yards. He had four rushing attempts for three yards.
Mills is playing in the Second Las Vegas All-American Classic, set for Saturday, Jan. 22. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET. The Ijamsville, Md. standout was a three-year starter and leader for the offense. He was elected a co-captain and named the Hall Foundation Award winner as Penn State's Senior MVP. Mills owns or shares18 Penn State passing and total offense records. He was 155 for 268 for 1,722 yards with 9 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this past season. He also had two catches for 57 yards, including a 18-yard touchdown reception, and two rushing TD. Mills' 41 career touchdown passes and 16 200-yard passing games are tied for the PSU lead. His 7,796 career total offense yards are a school record and good for ninth place all-time in the Big Ten rankings.
Wake will play in the 59th Hula Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 22. The game is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2. Wake also was a three-year starter and team co-captain. He started 10 games and played in all 11 this past season. The Beltsville, Md. product was fourth on the team with 58 tackles (29 solo), including 4.0 TFL for minus-13 yards and one sack. He also forced one fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked one kick, giving him seven career blocks. Wake was presented the John Bruno, Jr. Award as the team's top special teams player. Wake was a leader for a defense that allowed only 14 touchdowns in 11 games and ranked in the top 10 nationally in total, scoring and pass defense.
Coach Joe Paterno's squad returns 19 starters (9 offense, 9 defense, 1 specialist) for the 2005 season, which begins Sept. 3 vs. South Florida in Beaver Stadium.