Mike Hull an All-American; O'Connor to transfer; students tickets go on sale

Penn State's Mike Hull, who won the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award as the conference's best linebacker, has been named a second-team All-American by USA Today.

The 6-foot, 235-pound Hull, of Canonsburg, Pa., led the Big Ten with 134 tackles (11.2 per game) and keyed a defense that led the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards allowed (84.8 yards per game) and finished second in total defense (269.8 yards per game).

The Nittany Lions also finished second nationally in pass efficiency defense, sixth in allowing third-down conversions and eighth in scoring defense.

Hull is one of five Penn State linebackers to have earned first- or second-team All-American honors since 2005. The others are Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, NaVorro Bowman and Michael Mauti.

Quarterback to transfer

Penn State coach James Franklin announced that true freshman quarterback Michael O'Connor plans to transfer.

O'Connor, of Ottawa, Ont., was one of two quarterback recruits to redshirt this season, joining another true freshman, Trace McSorley. Although they were listed on the depth charts as backups to Christian Hackenberg, Franklin had said neither would play unless Hackenberg suffered an injury that would have kept him sidelined for an extended period.

"We thank Michael of his contributions to the program and wish him well in his future academic and athletic endeavors," Franklin said.

O'Connor, who was recruited by former coach Bill O'Brien, played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Student tickets for sale

Penn State will hold a walk-up sale on Saturday of student tickets for the Pinstripe Bowl starting at 9 a.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center. Students may begin lining up for the sale at 8 a.m.

Student tickets are $55 each. The university ticket office said the sale will continue until noon, unless the supply of tickets is exhausted before then, and that student members of the Nittany Lion Club will receive priority consideration for ticket purchases and location. There is a two-ticket limit per valid student ID.

Any leftover tickets from the student sale will go on sale Monday at 8:30 at the athletic ticket office.

Penn State, which already used up its initial allotment of 7,692 tickets from Pinstripe Bowl officials, has secured nearly 4,000 additional tickets to accommodate ticket requests.

The Nittany Lions will face Boston College on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium in their first bowl appearance since after the 2011 season.

--Joe Juliano