Ohio State Buckeyes Nearly Sweep Big Ten Honors: A Look at the Standout Players

The unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes have claimed a remarkable five major individual accolades for the 2025 Big Ten football season, nearly achieving a clean sweep of the top awards. Recently unveiled by the conference, these honors underscore the Buckeyes' defensive excellence throughout their perfect 12-0 season.Ohio State stands out as the inaugural program in Big Ten history to win all three key defensive positional awards within a single year. The highlight awards include:- Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb Downs (Safety)- Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Caleb Downs (Safety)- Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Kayden McDonald (Defensive Tackle)- Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Arvell Reese (Linebacker)- Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year: Jeremiah Smith (Wide Receiver)- Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: Julian Sayin (Quarterback)This marks Jeremiah Smith's second consecutive win as Receiver of the Year, while Caleb Downs becomes the first Buckeye since Chase Young in 2019 to earn Defensive Player of the Year. The Buckeyes' remarkable defensive talent is further reflected in their significant selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, where six starters received recognition across both defensive and offensive categories. This achievement reaffirms the Buckeyes' dominance in the conference.