Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and defensive end Abdul Carter were named Wednesday to the CBS Sports/247 Sports All-America first team.
Warren leads the Nittany Lions with 88 receptions for 1,062 yards and six touchdowns. He also has rushed 23 times for 191 yards and four scores and has passed for 35 yards for one TD.
Carter has 60 tackles, including 19.5 in the backfield and 10 sacks. He ranks among the national and Big Ten leaders in both categories.
Warren and Carter were finalists for national awards that went to other players this week.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter won his second straight Paul Hornung Award, which goes to the nation’s most versatile player. Hunter plays wide receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes. Warren was the first tight end to be a finalist for the Hornung Award.
South Carolina’s Kyle Kenard won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s best defensive player. Carter was one of the finalists.
They’re both finalists for other awards, which will be presented Thursday night on ESPN.
Carter is a finalist for the Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s best defensive player, and the Lombardi Award, presented to the nation’s best offensive or defensive lineman. Warren is a finalist for the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s best tight end.
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Penn State will have byes before meeting Oregon and Ohio State next season, according to the 2025 Big Ten schedule that was announced Wednesday.
The Nittany Lions will open conference play next year against the Big Ten champion Ducks Sept. 27 at Beaver Stadium.
After facing Oregon in what might be the annual White Out Game, Penn State travels to UCLA to face the Bruins Oct. 4 at the Rose Bowl, followed by a home game Oct. 11 against Northwestern and a road game at Iowa on Oct. 18.
The Lions will have their second bye of the season before making the short trip to Ohio State for a Nov. 1 game at Ohio Stadium. They will take on Indiana Nov. 8 in State College, followed by a trip to Michigan State for a Nov. 15 game, the Nov. 22 home finale against Nebraska and a short drive to Rutgers for the Nov. 29 regular season finale.
Penn State will begin the season with three home non-conference games against Nevada (Aug. 30), FIU (Sept. 6) and Villanova (Sept. 13) before its first bye.
Thirteen of the Big Ten teams in the Eastern and Central time zones will have a bye or a home game the weekend following their road games on the West Coast.
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Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki decided to return to the Nittany Lions for the 2025 season after interviewing for the vacant West Virginia head coaching job.
“Beyond lucky to be a part of the Penn State Football Family,” Kotelnicki posted earlier this week on X. “Still a lot to accomplish this season and I am looking forward to what 2025 has in store for our program!”
In Kotelnicki’s first season as offensive coordinator, the Lions have improved in several offensive categories. They rank 10th nationally in pass efficiency, 15th in total offense and third-down conversions, 19th in rushing, 25th in scoring and 41st in passing.
Meanwhile, Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen was not named Wednesday as one of the five finalists for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach.
The finalists are Arizona State offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, Indiana defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bryant Haines, Notre Dame defensive coordinator and former Temple head coach Al Golden, Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks and Texas defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Pete Kwiatkowski.
Golden is a former Penn State tight end, and Banks is a former Lions assistant coach.