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As a reminder, this is our All-Decade First-Team Defense
DE: Deion Barnes
DE: Shareef Miller
DT: Jordan Hill
DT: DaQuan Jones
Defense end was probably the biggest challenge, and I’m sure many people are upset with the selections, but having the conference Freshman of the Year with Barnes and a huge disrupter with Miller isn’t too shabby. Inside, picking Hill and Jones, both of whom were All-Big Ten, was a no-brainer.
LB: Mike Hull
LB: Jason Cabinda
LB: Brandon Bell
Nyeem Wartman-White came very close to making this list, but these three were very much numbers four, five, and six behind the first-team selections. Hull led the Big Ten in tackles his senior year and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection, while both Cabinda and Bell were named All-Conference as well. All of them possessed both athleticism and strength, necessary traits for outstanding members of LBU.
CB: Amani Oruwariye
CB: Grant Haley
S: Garrett Taylor
S: Christian Campbell
Amani was another easy pick as the group’s only First Team All-Big Ten selection. He also brings some length to the position, something lacking in the Atlanta native next to him. With that said, Haley was also a slam dunk, given his versatility, closing speed, and his ability to double as a return man. At safety, two converted cornerbacks were the choices. Taylor and Campbell both ended their careers on a strong note, as they were named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. I realize that Campbell was a cornerback, but I like having him at CB, so....yep.
P: Alex Butterworth
Unlike the previous decade, where Penn State had two outstanding punters in Jeremy Kapinos and Jeremy Boone, the beginning of the 2010’s was a little slim in the pickings. With that said, Alex Butterworth was the clear selection,. Butterworth finished his career in Happy Valley, booting five punts over 50 yards as a junior, and three as a senior, including a 66-yarder.
Returner: KJ Hamler
I mean...c’mon. Do I need to explain?