Hull honored as Big Ten’s top linebacker
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Penn State linebacker Mike Hull was named the winner of the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year Award in voting announced Monday.
The former Canon-McMillan High School graduate is the leading tackler in the Big Ten this season with 134 for the Nittany Lions. Hull, a senior, also was named first-team All-Big Ten.
Hull also has recorded 10.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and an interception for Penn State (2-6, 6-6), which had its bowl eligibility reinstated by the NCAA earlier this season. The Nittany Lions had been banned from postseason play following due to sanctions from its handling of the former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse case.
Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State each claimed two individual trophies, while one standout each from Iowa, Maryland, Penn State and Wisconsin earned an award.
Michigan State’s Kurtis Drummond was named the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, one year after former Spartan Darqueze Dennard accomplished the feat.
Tony Lippett became the first Michigan State player to earn Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year honors.
Minnesota’s Peter Mortell was named the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, while teammate Maxx Williams earned Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year honors.
Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett, who was injured in the Buckeys’ win over Michigan Saturday, earned the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year honor. It marked the third straight season that a Buckeyes signal caller has won the award, after Braxton Miller claimed the honor in both 2012 and 2013.
The Buckeyes’ Joey Bosa was named the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, becoming the seventh Ohio State player to claim the award, and the first since John Simon was honored in 2012.
Iowa’s Brandon Scherff was named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, becoming the seventh Hawkeye to capture the honor and the first since Bryan Bulaga in 2009.
Maryland’s Brad Craddock earned Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year honors in the Terrapins’ first season in the conference.
Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon collected the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year award, the third time in the past four years that a Badgers running back has captured the honor. Montee Ball won the award in 2011 and 2012.
Four Big Ten players were named repeat selections to the All-Big Ten first-team, including Iowa’s Scherff, Michigan State defensive lineman Shilique Calhoun and defensive back Kurtis Drummond and Nebraska defensive lineman Randy Gregory. Maryland’s Craddock and defensive back William Likely were first-team selections by both the coaches and media in the Terrapins’ first season in the Big Ten. Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo also earned first-team honors from the media in the Scarlet Knights’ inaugural year as a member of the conference.