Tag: PSU-MD-2021

Jahan Dotson, Ji’Ayir Brown earn Big Ten weekly honors

The Big Ten honored Penn State’s Jahan Dotson and Ji’Ayir Brown for their big games against Maryland

Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson turned in a school-record setting performance in a win against Maryland this weekend, and the Big Ten certainly took notice. Dotson was named Big Ten co-offensive player of the week for his performance against Maryland. And he was not alone in receiving Big Ten honors in Happy Valley.

Safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who sealed the victory over Maryland with an interception returned for a touchdown in the final minutes, was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. It was pretty clear that both players were deserving of their weekly honors from the Big Ten offices.

Dotson set a new school-record for the most receiving yards in a single game with 242 yards, and he added three touchdowns as well. The only other touchdown scored in the game by Penn State was by Brown with his pick-six.

Brown has been having a fantastic season this year for the Nittany Lions. In a year where Jaquan Brisker has been in the spotlight as the top player on the Penn State defense, it is Brown who leads the Big Ten with four interceptions, which is good for third in the FBS.

Penn State will hope to get more big moments from Dotson and Brown in Week 11 when the Nittany Lions host Michigan.

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Penn State’s Fred Hansard issues apology to Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa

Penn State’s Fred Hansard issued an apology for a sideline shove of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa

During Penn State’s road victory against Maryland on Saturday, there was a brief moment on the Penn State sideline that caught the eye of the broadcasters calling the game on FS1 and drew the ire of the Maryland faithful. Penn State lineman Fred Hansard was seen giving a somewhat hard shove to Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who was running out of bounds on a play as the Terrapins were moving the football in the second half. On Monday, Hansard issued a public apology directed toward Tagovailoa and the entire Maryland football program.

“I would like to extend my sincere apologies for the unfortunate incident that took place on the sideline on Saturday,” Hansard said in his statement. “It was truly an act of impulse, and not malice. I did not and would not intentionally try to hurt another player. I believe in the integrity and the rules of the game.”

Video replay does seem to show Hansard reacting instinctively as he turns and sees a player coming at him. The slow-motion replay may make it look worse than it appeared in real time as well. But the video replay also shows Hansard appearing to pull back as if he did not intend to inflict any harm on Tagovailoa and was regretful for the sequence of events.

Hansard also issued an apology to one of his teammates, Rasheed Walker. Walker received some backlash for the sideline incident due to confusion over which player did the shove. Walker and Hansard wear the same uniform number (53), leading to plenty of criticism misguidingly being sent in the direction of Walker.

“I would also like to apologize to my teammate and brother, Rasheed Walker,” Hansard said. “Not only did my actions make you the subject of false public criticism on Saturday, but I also misrepresented what it means to wear #53 for Penn State Football.”

There has been no indication on whether or not Hansard will receive any internal discipline from head coach James Franklin or the Penn State program for the incident. There was no foul called on the play at the time, which was questioned by the broadcasters at the time, and the Big Ten has yet to issue any statement or suspension to Hansard at this time.

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Around the Big Ten in Week 10: Boilermakers strike again against Michigan State

Around the Big Ten in Week 10: Purdue takes down Spartans, B1G West shaping up for wild finish, Ohio State still the team to beat

There is just something about playing a highly-ranked team that brings out the absolute best in the Purdue Boilermakers. In the same season Purdue added another victory against a No. 2 team in the country with their win against Iowa a few weeks back, Purdue struck again with a lopsided victory over Michigan State, ranked third in the College Football Playoff rankings entering the weekend.

As our friends over at Buckeyes Wire suggested in their updated Big Ten power rankings, the more things to change, the more things stay the same. On the first weekend of November, we were given another reminder that the road to the Big Ten championship is still likely to run through Columbus, Ohio as Ohio State remains the only undefeated team in Big Ten play going into Week 11.

Here’s a look around everything that went down in the Big Ten. Ranking referenced are College Football Playoff rankings. For our coverage of Penn State’s 31-14 victory over Maryland, click HERE.