Penn State's Dan Connor Wins Bednarik Award

Dan Connor leers at a Michigan State player during the 2006 game at Happy Valley.

Dan Connor continues to make 'Linebacker U' proud. Connor was named the Bednarik Award recipient tonight during the Hom Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN. The Bednarik Award is given annually to the best defensive player at the college level as decided by the Maxwell Football Club. With Connor's win Penn State has now captured this award in three consecutive seasons. Paul Posluszny won the award in 2005 and 2006. Connor, who has 410 tackles in his four years, is also a finalist for the Butkus Award which is given to the nation's best linebacker. Posluszny failed in his attempt to repeat as Butkus Award winner in 2006 as the award went to Patrick Willis of Mississippi. The odds on favorite is Ohio State's James Laurinaitis.

Connor was also named to the Walter Camp All-America team, the nations oldest All-America squad. He will most likely be named to many more first team and national squads over the next few weeks.