Penn State football: Robinson earns Sporting News first-team All-American slot | Centre Daily Times

Penn State standout wide receiver Allen Robinson was named a Sporting News first-team All-American on Friday.

The 2012 and 2013 Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year under Coach Bill O’Brien, Robinson is Penn State’s 98th first-team All-America selection all-time. He is the 84th Penn State football student-athlete to earn first team All-America recognition, dating to W.T. (Mother) Dunn's selection to the Walter Camp All-America squad in 1906.

Robinson’s selection gives Penn State at least one first-team All-American in every season since 2005 (12 overall), with 18 first or second-team All-Americans over the past nine seasons. The standout junior is the Nittany Lions’ 24th first team All-American since starting Big Ten Conference competition in 1993 (28 total selections).

On Thursday, Robinson was named a second-team All-American by Athlon Sports.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among the best players in the country,” Robinson said. “Anytime you receive an honor of this stature is a blessing. I couldn’t have helped the team or achieved this without the efforts of my teammates and coaches.”

Robinson is the first player since 1985 to lead the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yardage in consecutive seasons. Robinson’s combined 174 receptions and 2,445 receiving yards the past two years both rank No. 3 in Big Ten history for consecutive seasons.

A semifinalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, Robinson has earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media the past two seasons. In Penn State’s eight Big Ten games this season, Robinson made 71 catches (8.9 avg.) for 984 yards (123.0 ypg), improving on his overall season averages.

The former St. Mary’s (Mich.) prep standout led the Big Ten with Penn State season records in receptions (97) and receiving yardage (1,432) for the second consecutive year. Robinson ranks No. 3 nationally in receiving yardage (119.3 ypg) and No. 8 in receptions (8.1 avg.). He had six touchdown catches this season (17 career) and a long catch of 65 yards, which went for a touchdown at Ohio State.

Robinson ranks second in school career receptions (177) and third in Penn State career receiving yardage (2,474 yds), with numbers earned almost entirely the past two seasons (3 catches for 29 yards in 2011). His eight 100-yard receiving games this year were a Penn State season record and he made 13 catches of 35 or more yards this season, including four touchdowns of 45 yards or longer.

Seven Big Ten players earned All-America honors this week, including three first-team selections. Joining Robinson on the Sporting News squad were Michigan State defensive back Darqueze Dennard and Northwestern kicker Jeff Budzien. Dennard was also named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, while Budzien, Michigan offensive lineman Taylor Lewan, Michigan State defensive lineman Shilique Calhoun and the Ohio State duo of offensive lineman Jack Mewhort and linebacker Ryan Shazier were tabbed for second-team laurels.