Posluszny Wins Preseason Honor

Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny has been named the Big Ten's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, according to a press release from the conference. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

A senior-to-be on the Penn State football team, Paul Posluszny won the Butkus and Bednarick Awards in 2005 in helping to guide the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten title and an Orange Bowl win over Florida State. He is the league's leading returning tackler, having made 116 (9.7 per game) in 2005.

Troy Smith, meanwhile, led the Big Ten and finished sixth nationally with a 162.7 pass efficiency rating while throwing for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2005. He led the Buckeyes to a win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl by accounting for more than 400 total yards.

The media who cover the conference bestowed both honors.

In related news, the media picked Ohio State as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten title, followed by Michigan and Iowa. The league only announces the top three selections.

We will have more from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago later today.

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