The Penn State defensive line continues to make national headlines, with ESPN naming the current FBS sack leader Carl Nassib to the mid-season All-American list and giving All-Big Ten team honors to defensive tackle Austin Johnson. Nassib exploded on to the scene this year with 11.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles. He leads the country in all of these categories and is starting to rack up historic Penn State numbers.  Currently recording the highest Penn State sack totals since Aaron Maybin had 12 back in 2008, Nassib was recently added to the Bednarik Award watch list for the nation’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Austin Johnson is not far behind. The big man has been immensely productive on the gridiron this year with 40 tackles, which is good for third on the team. His 7.5 sacks show he does more than stuff opponent’s runs. Between him and Nassib, it isn’t hard to see why the Penn State defensive line is one of the strongest in the country. He also has been included on the Bednarik Award watch list and it is obvious why he was a top choice to be named one of the best defensive tackles within the Big Ten.

Penn State is coming off a loss to the No. 1 team in the country, Ohio State, but looks to bounce back against Maryland on Saturday. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. giving the Terrapins three more hours than they had last year to look up how to give a proper handshake.