Posluszny selected as finalist for Lott trophy

Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny has been selected as one of three finalists for the third annual Lott Trophy.

Named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. In its third year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

The other two finalists are cornerback Daymeion Hughes (California) and defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock (Ohio State).

"It is an honor to have these three fine young men as finalists for the award," said Lott.

"They are each a credit to the game of football, to their school and to their families."

The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. on December 10. The keynote speaker at the event will be Pro Football Hall of Famer and long-time Monday Night Football commentator Frank Gifford.

Winner of the 2005 Butkus and Bednarik Awards, Posluszny is a 2006 finalist for those two honors, as well as the Rotary Lombardi Award. The Rotary Lombardi Award winner will be announced Dec. 6 in Houston, while the Bednarik and Butkus Award recipients will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla. The event is Dec. 7 and will air on ESPN from 7-9 p.m.

Big Ten selects Hodge as Player of the Week

Penn State women's volleyball freshman outside hitter Megan Hodge has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week, conference officials announced yesterday.

It is the third career honor for Hodge, who also earned the award on Sept. 25 and Oct. 23, and the sixth of the season for the Nittany Lions. She joins sophomores Nicole Fawcett and Christa Harmotto and freshman Alisha Glass in earning the honor this year. It brings Penn State's total Big Ten Player of the Week honors to 50 since joining the conference for the 1991 season.