Why should this nominee be considered for the Broyles Award?
·Manny Diaz was hired as Penn State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on Dec. 11, 2021.·Diaz, who has 24 years of collegiate coaching experience, including three as a head coach and 13 as a defensive coordinator, joined the Nittany Lions after spending six seasons (2016-21) at the University of Miami, including three seasons as head coach (2019-21), where he coached the Hurricanes to three bowl appearances.·Penn State has limited seven opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this season (Purdue, 61; Ohio, 99; Central Michigan, 88; Northwestern, 31; Ohio State, 98; Indiana, 65; Maryland, 60)·The Nittany Lions have held four teams to under 50 percent pass completions this season (Ohio, 42.5; Northwestern, 40.5; Minnesota, 40.9; Maryland, 47.8).·Penn State had six or more sacks in back-to-back games (6, at Indiana; 7, Maryland) for the first time since 2007 when it had two consecutive games with six or more sacks(7, Florida International, 9/1; 6, Notre Dame, 9/8).
Coach's Past Performance
·Defenses under Diaz have been a force behind the line of scrimmage. From 2018-20, Miami’s defense featured at least one player with 15 tackles for loss: Jaelan Phillips (15.5) in 2020, Gregory Rousseau (19.5) in 2019 and Jonathan Garvin (18.0) in 2018.·During Diaz’s tenure in Miami, the Hurricanes ranked in the top 10 nationally in tackles for loss each year. Miami was No. 9 in 2021 (7.75 per game), No. 4 in 2020 (8.6), No. 4 in 2019 (8.3), No. 1 in 2018 (10.5), No. 4 in 2017 (8.5) and No. 5 in 2016 (8.3).
Team Record and Standings
Penn State is 8-2 and ranked No. 11 in the AP poll
Team/Unit Stats
(300 word limit)Penn State’s Defense National Ranks:Pass Breakups: 1stPassing Efficiency: 6thRed Zone: 8thTackles For Loss: 14thSacks: 16thScoring: 16th3rd Down: 22ndTakeaways: 25th
Individual Player Stats
S Ji’Ayir Brown Total Interceptions – 3 (24/6) Interceptions Per Game – 0.3 (34/7) LB Curtis Jacobs Fumbles Recovered – 2 (14/1) CB Kalen King Passes Defended Per Game – 1.4 (6/1)
