12 Pitt players named All-ACC, including 4 first-teamers
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Four Pitt players were named to the All-ACC first team Tuesday, leading a contingent of 12 Panthers recognized in voting by conference coaches and media personnel.
Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, running back Izzy Abanikanda, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and left guard Marcus Minor were chosen to the first team.
Abanikanda leads the ACC in rushing with 1,431 yards, running behind a veteran line that included Minor, who has started the past two seasons after transferring from Maryland.
Kancey earned first-team honors for the second consecutive season after collecting 14 1/2 tackles for loss, including 7 ½ sacks. He is the only player chosen by the Football Writers Association of America as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player) and Outland Trophy (best interior lineman).
Dennis, a three-time All-ACC selection, leads the Panthers with a career-high 94 tackles.
Wide receiver Jared Wayne, safety Erick Hallett II and return specialist M.J. Devonshire (Aliquippa) were named to the second team. Devonshire returned a punt 82 yards for touchdown against Rhode Island and led the ACC with an average of 9.9 per return.
Wayne was third in the ACC with 1,006 receiving yards, giving Pitt its third rushing (Abanikanda) and receiving combo to hit four digits since 2009.
Hallett made his mark creating six turnovers (three interceptions, three fumble recoveries) and helping his defensive teammates get aligned properly at every snap.
Third-team honors went to versatile offensive linemen Jake Kradel (Butler) and Matt Goncalves. Kradel, who started a total of 12 games at guard and center, was named third-team guard and honorable mention center. Goncalves bounced between right and left tackle, as needed.
Others who earned honorable mention were Devonshire at cornerback, defensive end Deslin Alexandre, safety Brandon Hill and cornerback Marquis Williams.
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Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who recorded 11 pass breakups and allowed just nine catches among 26 targets in man-to-man coverage this season, was named first-team All-Big Ten by separate voting from conference coaches and reporters.
A redshirt junior from North Allegheny, Porter made history during Penn State’s 35-31 victory at Purdue in the opening week of the season when he broke up six passes to set a school record and tie a Big Ten mark that had been unmatched since 2015. The six breakups are tied for the most in a single game for an FBS player since Houston’s William Jackson III had seven against Temple in 2015.
Porter, who played in 34 career games with 30 starts, also had a team-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble against Purdue.
Joining Porter as All-Big Ten selections were linebacker Abdul Carter (second team), defensive tackle PJ Mustipher and kick returner Nicholas Singleton, all on the second team. Penn State players named to the third team were safety Ji’Ayir Brown, defensive end Adisa Isaac and cornerback Kalen King. Honorable mention recognition went to punter Barney Amor, cornerback Johnny Dixon, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, kicker Jake Pinegar and defensive ends Chop Robinson and Nick Tarburton.
Long snapper Chris Stoll won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.