In a surprising twist, Micah Parsons did not make the latest freshman All-America team. And neither did Pat Freiermuth.
However, Penn State was represented on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, as all-purpose threat KJ Hamler was recognized as the top young kickoff returner in college football.
Hamler — a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the nation’s most versatile player — was certainly deserving of the honor. The redshirt freshman lived up to his nickname of “The Human Joystick,” accounting for 1,417 all-purpose yards (754 receiving, 619 returning, 44 rushing) and six total touchdowns.