Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier earns Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors

The linebacker from Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been a rock on the defensive side of the ball since his freshman year at Ohio State. Ryan Shazier has earned himself Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors again, for a spectacular performance against the Indiana Hoosiers on Senior Day. Shazier accounted for a career-best 20 tackles, which included a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

The outside linebacker, who is also a finalist for the 2013 Butkus Award (given to the nation's top linebacker), achieved a pair of program records against Indiana recording 16 solo tackles and 5 tackles for loss in the Buckeyes win. Shazier also became the first Buckeye with 20 tackles since A.J. Hawk in 2004, matched the 16 solo stops set by Tom Cousineau in 1978 and tied the 5.0 TFLs held by four other Buckeyes, achieved most recently by standout defensive lineman John Simon in 2012.

Earning this honor from the Big Ten this week gives Shazier the record for the most career Defensive Player of the Week honors, five, and also most in a single season, which is three. Ryan Shazier was also last week's winner of the Defensive Player of the Week, and we want to congratulate him on his success.