Malik Hooker Named a Semifinalist for Thorpe Award
10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 24, 2016
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State sophomore safety Malik Hooker was today named one of 16 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame to the outstanding defensive back in college football. Hooker is among four Big Ten Conference players named a semifinalist.
A physical, 6-2, 205-pounder from New Castle (Pa.) High School, Hooker is tied for sixth nationally with four interceptions. He is second among Buckeyes with 22 solo tackles, third with 36 total tackles, including 4.0 tackles-for-loss, and he has led the team in tackles twice, most recently last week with seven stops vs. Penn State.
Three finalists will be named Nov. 21 and the winner will be announced live on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show Dec. 8 on ESPN.
After consecutive primetime night games on the road, the 6-1 and 3-1 (Big Ten) Ohio State Buckeyes will kick off a two-game homestand Saturday against Northwestern (4-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten West with three consecutive wins) at 3:30 p.m. in Ohio Stadium. ESPN will televise the game to a national audience.
