Joey Bosa Big Ten defensive lineman of the year again – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 30, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior defensive end Joey Bosa, who is a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and is vying to become a two-time All-American, was today named the Big Ten Conference’s Smith-Brown defensive lineman of the year for the second consecutive year. The Big Ten Conference made the announcement this evening, in addition to unveiling the members of the all-Big Ten defensive team and special teams selections.
Bosa is an anchor of an Ohio State defense that is ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring (14.0 ppg) and is 10th in total defense (303.5). He has 47 tackles, 16.0 tackles-for-loss (-60), five quarterback sacks, four pass break-ups, 14 QB pressures and an interception and forced fumble in 2015. He is the nation’s active career leader with 50.5 TFLs and he is third nationally with 26 career quarterback sacks.
Bosa was a unanimous All-American in 2014 when he was named the Big Ten’s Nagurski-Woodson defensive player of the year and the defensive lineman of the year.
Joshua, Raekwon & Vonn first-team All-Big Ten
Bosa was named first-team all-Big Ten by both the league coaches and the voting media contingent, and he leads a corps of 10 Buckeye defenders honored by the conference, including three additional first-team selections:
- Senior linebacker Joshua Perry, who is second on the team and 11th in the Big Ten with 98 tackles (coaches’ team)
- Junior safety Vonn Bell, who leads the team with 11 passes defended including two interceptions and with two defensive touchdowns (media)
- Sophomore linebacker Raekwon McMillan, the team leader with 114 tackles and a total that is good for third-most in the Big Ten (media)
Senior tackle Adolphus Washington, with 49 tackles, seven TFLs including four sacks, a pick-six interception and four quarterback hurries, earned second team all-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media. Second team honors by the coaches also included sophomore linebacker Darron Lee and sophomore cornerback Eli Apple.
Junior punter Cameron Johnston, second in the Big Ten an 23rd nationally with a 44.1 punting average, was named the league’s second-team all-Big Ten punter by both the coaches and the media.
Buckeyes on defense earning honorable mention all-Big Ten status this season included sophomore defensive tackle Tyquan Lewis and graduated safety Tyvis Powell on both the coaches’ and media teams, and sophomore cornerback Gareon Conley (media).
In the new this year return specialist category, sophomore punt returner Jalin Marshall was accorded honorable mention honors by both the coaches and media.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 1) the Big Ten Conference will reveal its offensive award winners on the Big Ten Network’s “BTN Live” show airing between 6-7 p.m. EST.
