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MILES
DIEFFENBACH 6-3 ➤ 297 ➤ Sr./Jr. Eligible Guard ➤ Pittsburgh, Pa. A pair of former western Pennsylvania prep standouts shared the team’s Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award this past spring, with guard Miles Dieffenbach and linebacker Mike Hull joining the distinguished list of honorees. The Patrick honor goes to a junior class member who consistently displays a total commitment to academics, off-season preparation, in-season commitment and community service. Dieffenbach joined several former standout offensive linemen who have won the Patrick Award, including Jeff Hartings, Andre Johnson, Matt Schmitt, Mike Farrell and 2013 seniors Ty Howle and John Urschel. A center during his first two years at Penn State, Dieffenbach, Howle and Urschel likely will comprise the anchor of the offensive line this year. A former Fox Chapel Area High School All-American, Dieffenbach grabbed the starting nod at left guard for the season-opener with Ohio and started 11 games last year. His efforts in the strength and conditioning program have helped him add nearly 15 pounds since 2012 winter conditioning. The physical, talented and passionate player continues to improve his skills and will be counted on for significant and consistent productivity in 2013. He also is active in community service. Dieffenbach owned a 3.35 gradepoint average in advertising/public relations entering the summer and will be a candidate for Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America® consideration. A Dean’s List student, he was selected to the 2012 Academic All-Big Ten team and is on schedule to graduate next spring. Dieffenbach’s father, George, has more than 500 combined career victories as the head coach of the Pitt tennis teams, coaching the women’s team since 1981.
➤ 2011 ➤ Sophomore Season Dieffenbach’s hard work and improvement did not result in any playing time, with four senior starters on the offensive line. ➤ 2010 ➤ Freshman Season Redshirt season. ➤ High School Dieffenbach was a four-year starter under Coach Bryan Deal at Fox Chapel Area High School. He was rated the nation’s No. 1 prep center by ESPNU, No. 3 by Scout.com and No. 4 by Rivals.com. He was an Under Armour All-American and first-team all-state selection. He was named first-team All-WPIAL and all-conference. Dieffenbach did not allow a sack his junior or senior years, and tallied 45 tackles and five sacks. He was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22 and was on the winning squad in the 2010 Under Armour All-America game. ➤ Personal Full name is George Miles Dieffenbach. He is the son of George and Emma Dieffenbach. He has an older sister, Sarah, who played tennis at the University of Pittsburgh, where their father has been the head coach of the tennis program since 1981. His grandparents, Fred and Shirley Dieffenbach, are Penn State graduates, as well as an aunt and a great aunt. Dieffenbach enjoys fishing during his free time. He is an advertising/public relations major and owned a 3.35 grade-point average following the spring semester. Born July 9, 1991 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
➤ 2012 ➤ Junior Season Dieffenbach solidified a starting assignment at left guard in training camp and started 11 games. He earned his first career start in the season-opener against Ohio, and appeared in all 12 contests. He was instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in total offense (437.0 ypg) in conference games and ranking second in scoring offense (32.6 ppg) and second in pass offense (283.1 ypg) against Big Ten foes. Dieffenbach helped Penn State gain more than 500 yards of total offense three times in conference play, topped by 546 yards against Indiana, its highest total against a Big Ten foe since gaining 557 yards against Michigan State in 2008. He played a critical role in helping pave the way for 1,000-yard rusher Zach Zwinak and protecting quarterback Matt McGloin during his record-setting 2012 campaign. Dieffenbach was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team for the first time.
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@PennStateFball
NEARLY 50 NITTANY LIONS EARN 3.0 GRADE-POINT AVERAGE DURING SPRING SEMESTER
PSUFBall
Forty-six Nittany Lion football student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 grade-point average during the 2013 spring semester, a significant increase from the 34 football student-athletes who compiled a 3.0 GPA during the 2012 spring semester. Five Nittany Lions recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA during the spring semester, three of whom are returning for the 2013 season: linebacker Ben Kline, fullback Dom Salomone and guard John Urschel. Among the 46 high achieving Nittany Lions, 20 compiled a 3.5 GPA or higher during the spring semester. A total of 12 Nittany Lions earned Dean’s List recognition in the spring by attaining at least a 3.5 GPA and passing the minimum 12 credits. Coach Bill O’Brien’s squad returns 34 student-athletes with a cumulative 3.0 or higher GPA for the 2013 season.
PENN STATE FOOTBALL 2013