A repeat performance
PHILADELPHIA — Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, who switched positions in his senior season after a knee injury forced him to forgo the 2005 NFL draft, on Thursday night was named the winner of the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player for a second straight year.
The senior from Aliquippa became only the second player to capture the award, presented by Philadelphia's Maxwell Club, in two straight years. Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald won it in 1995-96.
"It took a couple of games, with the knee injury and the position change, for me to get it going," Posluszny said after accepting the award at nationally televised college-football-awards ceremony in Orlando, Fla.
But while he was selected as the nation's best defender, Posluszny did not repeat as the winner of the Butkus Award, which goes to the top linebacker. That went to Mississippi's Patrick Willis. Posluszny and Ohio State's James Laurinaitis were the other finalists.
The two other finalists for the Bednarik Trophy, named for ex-Philadelphia Eagles great Chuck Bednarik, were Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley and Posluszny's teammate and fellow linebacker, Dan Connor.
Posluszny, who also was a consensus all-American, won his two trophies at two different positions. He played outside linebacker as a junior but was moved inside this season by Joe Paterno.
"He has moved inside and has gotten better every game," Paterno, who made the move, in part, to open a spot for sophomore Sean Lee, said.
In addition, Posluszny also had to recover from the serious knee injury he suffered late in January's Orange Bowl victory over Florida State, an injury that kept him from leaving early for the NFL draft.
He wore a brace all year but appeared to get quicker and more fluid as the season progressed.
"He's a heck of a football player," Paterno said. "He's a really good athlete, loves to play football and works at it. He studies the game. He hasn't been quite as spectacular this year, but he is a better football player this year than he was a year ago."
Posluszny led the team with 108 tackles and is now Penn State's all-time leader in tackles, having passed Greg Buttle late in the season.
"I never had a regret about coming back for my senior year," Posluszny said. "It was an honor to play another year under Coach Paterno and finish my career at Penn State."
Another Penn Stater, senior Jeremy Kapinos, was a runner-up to repeat winner Daniel Sepulveda of Baylor for the Ray Guy Trophy, which goes to the nation's outstanding punter.
The Maxwell Award, also presented by Philadelphia's Maxwell Club to the year's top player, went to Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.
