Penn State’s Diaz Named a Broyles Award Semifinalist

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Penn State Football defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Manny Diaz has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2023 Broyles Award, The Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced on Monday. The Broyles Award honors college football’s top assistant coach. A selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters, and a committee representing the Football Writers Association of America narrowed the list of nominees to 15 semifinalists. Five finalists will be selected from this list. Then an overall winner will be named.

• Through 11 games in 2023, Penn State leads the nation in sacks per game (3.73), while ranking second in total sacks (41), fourth in tackles for loss per game (8.1) and fifth in total tackles for loss (89).
• The Nittany Lions rank second in the country in total defense (238.7), first downs allowed (146), fumbles recovered (12) and turnovers gained (23), while sitting third in rushing defense (79.2).
• Penn State is also fourth in scoring defense (12.5), sixth in passing defense (159.5), 10th in passing efficiency defense (110.94) and 15th in third down conversion defense (30.4).
• Penn State has held opponents to 24 or less points in 16-straight games. It is the nation’s longest active streak.
• Through 11 games, 24 Nittany Lions have recorded at least one tackle for loss and 18 have recorded at least one sack.
• Among FBS teams, Penn State has the most players (18) with at least 1.0 sacks this season, while only Appalachian State and SMU (25) have more players with a tackle for loss.
• The Nittany Lions also have nine players with an interception, 10 players with a forced fumble and 10 players with a fumble recovery this season.
• Among FBS teams, Penn State leads the nation in most players with a fumble recovery, while only Notre Dame, Oregon State and Texas State have more players with a forced fumble.
• Only five FBS teams have more players with an interception (Georgia Southern, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt).
• Penn State has held nine opponents under 100 rushing yards this season (Delaware, 82; Illinois, 78; Iowa, 20; Northwestern, 45; UMass, 64; Ohio State, 79; Indiana, 80; Maryland, -49; Rutgers, 99).
• The Nittany Lions have held four opponents to 60 or less passing yards this year (Delaware, 58; Iowa, 56; UMass, 45; Michigan, 60).
• Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State has held 18 opponents under 100 rushing yards, most in the FBS.
• Over the last two seasons, Penn State has held opponents to under a 50 completion percentage in nine games, the nation’s seventh-most in that span.
• Over the last two seasons, the Nittany Lions have allowed under 10 completions in five games, tied second-most in the nation.
• Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State has forced 49 turnovers (25 interceptions, 24 fumbles), second in the nation.
• Penn State’s 24 fumbles recovered over the last two seasons are tied-most in the nation and are most in the Big Ten, while the 25 interceptions are tied 18th.
• Penn State has recorded three or more takeaways in 10 games over the last two seasons, tied-most among FBS teams.
• Over the last two seasons, Penn State is 13-0 when forcing multiple takeaways in a game.
• Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State is first in the nation in turnover margin, averaging a +1.21 margin (2.04 gained per game; 0.83 lost per game).

The 2023 Penn State Football season is presented by PSECU.