Dan Connor, a Penn State All-American linebacker and team captain, was named the nation's top defensive player last night when he received the Chuck Bednarik Award, marking the third consecutive year a Penn State player has received the honor.
Connor, who led the Big Ten in tackles with 136, beat out two other finalists for the award -- Louisiana State University's Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State's James Laurinaitis.
This season, Connor also became Penn State's all-time leader in tackles, surpassing Paul Posluszny's career total of 372 in the season's 10th week. Posluszny, now with the Buffalo Bills, won the Bednarik Award in 2005 and 2006.
Penn State, known around the country as "Linebacker U," may have a good shot at making it four in a row in 2008, Connor said last night.
"There might be one on the way, with Sean Lee coming up next year," Connor told ESPN's Chris Fowler after receiving the award. Lee, a junior linebacker, finished the regular season with 124 tackles, tied for third in the Big Ten.
The Bednarik Award has been given annually since 1995 in honor of former Philadelphia Eagle Chuck Bednarik. NCAA head coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club, sportswriters and broadcasters around the country vote on the award, according to the Maxwell Football Club.
Connor is also a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to college football's best linebacker. The winner will be announced tonight.
