Penn's Tyler Drake wins Ivy honor

PENN SENIOR linebacker Tyler Drake has been named the Ivy League's Defensive Player of the Year after helping lead the Quakers (7-3, 6-1) to a three-way tie for the title with Harvard and Dartmouth.

He's the fifth Penn player to be so honored, and the first since linebacker Jake Lewko in 2009.

"He was a force all season," said first-year coach Ray Priore. "Day in and day out, he was the standard bearer in the Ivy League at his position . . . I am thankful to the coaches who recognized his effort and his value to our team."

Drake had 80 tackles and an Ivy-best 8 1/2 sacks. He's among 25 finalists for the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Year.

Penn sophomore wide receiver Justin Watson finished runner-up to Harvard quarterback Scott Hosch for the Offensive Player of the Year.

"Without question, we would not have won an Ivy League title without him," said Priore, who earlier was named the league's coach of the year.