Senior defensive lineman Cooper Gardner was one of two Penn football players to be honored a first team All-Ivy.
Credit: Chase SuttonDespite the disappointing end to the season, many Penn football players earned postseason individual accolades after standing out on the gridiron this season.
Reprising his 2017 First-Team All-Ivy selection, senior middle linebacker Nick Miller, the anchor of Penn’s relatively stout defense, earned a unanimous honor — and for good reason. Miller led the team in total tackles, tackles for a loss, sacks, and forced fumbles.
Senior defensive lineman Cooper Gardner also received first team All-Ivy recognition for his contributions to Penn’s defense. The interior lineman was a force to be reckoned with this year, posting seven tackles for a loss and finishing at second on the team in sacks. At 6’1” and 270 pounds, Gardner forced teams to think twice about running it up the middle, making a significant impact for this Quaker squad, who led the Ivy in sacks and finished top three in yards allowed per play.
All earning second team All-Ivy nods, senior offensive lineman Tommy Dennis, junior running back Karekin “KK” Brooks, and senior linebacker Jay Cammon, Jr. each carved out impactful roles on this year’s team. Dennis led an effective offensive line that only gave up 11 sacks all season, good for top three in the Ivy League. Brooks had a breakout year, finishing with a team-high 1,109 all-purpose yards and a SportsCenter Top 10 one-handed snag. Finishing second on the team in tackles for a loss, Cammon, like Miller and Gardner, helped hold down a tough Quaker defensive unit.
Several Penn players also received All-Ivy honorable mention. Senior wide receiver Steve Farrell, freshman defensive back Mohammed Diakite, senior DB Jacob Martin, and kicker Jack Soslow were all honored with this designation. After the team lost now-NFL receiver Justin Watson, Farrell stepped up in 2018 and delivered for the team. Diakite and Martin, following the season-ending injury to senior safety Sam Philippi, worked admirably to pick up the slack while, finally, Soslow had another great season in which he made eleven of his field goal attempts.
Penn might not have been able to put it all together on the field in its bid for an Ivy championship this season, but the team had talent — and the Ivy League's selections reflect that.
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