UNIVERSITY PARK - A quartet of Penn State standouts have accepted invitations to play in the 63rd Annual Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 28.
Defensive end Jack Crawford, cornerback D'Anton Lynn, All-America defensive tackle Devon Still and guard Johnnie Troutman are scheduled to play for the North.
Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on the NFL Network from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
Other Penn State seniors may be selected to play in other all-star games, to be announced later this month.
The quartet of Nittany Lions playing in the Senior Bowl is Penn State highest number of participants in the contest since five in the 2003 Senior Bowl. Three of the five were NFL first round draft choices that spring (Michael Haynes, Bryant Johnson and Larry Johnson).
The Nittany Lions' Senior Bowl contingent is led by Still, a consensus first-team All-American. He was selected Penn State's 96th first-team All-American, earning a spot on 10 All-America teams. A senior co-captain, Still also was selected the 2011 Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year.
A starter in 25 games the past two seasons, Still graduated in December. For the season, Still was second in the Big Ten in solo tackles for loss (15.0) and tied for fifth in overall TFL (17.0-minus 77), leading a Penn State defense that ranked in the Top 10 nationally in scoring, total, pass and pass efficiency defense through the regular season. Still was among the conference leaders with 4.5 sacks (minus-36) and recorded 55 tackles, with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a pass break-up. The 6-5, 310-pound Still anchored a Penn State defense that held nine opponents to 18 points or less this season, as well as seven opponents to less than 100 rushing yards.
Crawford recorded 40 tackles and a team-high 6.5 sacks (minus-39) this season. He was tied for sixth in the Big Ten with his 6.5 sacks and was tied for third on the team with six pass break-ups. He had a total of 7.5 TFL and also recovered a fumble. Crawford was selected second-team All-Big Ten and earned a State College Quarterback Club Special Award as the team's senior banquet. Crawford made 33 career starts, including every game this season, the fourth-highest total on the team.
A three-year starter at cornerback, Lynn again was a significant force all over the field for the Nittany Lions. Lynn made his 37th career start, second-highest on the team, in the TicketCity Bowl near his hometown of Celina, Texas. A three-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection, he finished his career by making four tackles (three solo) and breaking up two passes vs. Houston. Lynn was eighth on the team with 49 tackles (32 solo) and tied for the team lead with eight pass break-ups. He was tied for No. 7 in the Big Ten in passes defended.
Troutman started every game at left guard this season and was tied for fifth on the team with 32 career starts.
He was instrumental in the Nittany Lions leading the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed (14). Troutman played a vital role in helping clear paths for tailback Silas Redd (1,241 yards), giving Penn State a 1,000-yard rusher for the seventh consecutive season. Redd's rushing total ranks No. 10 in Penn State season records book. Troutman was selected honorable-mention All-Big Ten. A May, 2011 graduate, he also was selected the Brooks-Irvine Football Club New Jersey Division I College Player of the Year.
