For playing a part in Ohio State’s first undefeated regular season since 2019, several Buckeyes earned honors from the Big Ten.
No player was more recognized than junior safety Caleb Downs. Downs was named the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and was named to the All-Big Ten first team.
Downs wasn’t the only player who earned recognition. Junior defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was named the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year and junior linebacker Arvell Reese was named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year.
Both Reese and McDonald were named to the All-Big Ten first team by both the coaches and the media. Senior linebacker Sonny Styles was also named to the All-Big Ten first team by both the coaches and the media, while senior defensive end Caden Curry and senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun were named to the All-Big Ten first team by the media, but made the second team for the coaches’ list.
Junior cornerback Jermaine Mathews also earned All-Big Ten third-team honors from the Big Ten coaches, while sophomore safety Jaylen McClain earned All-Big Ten third-team honors from the media.
Junior defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., graduate cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. and senior defensive tackle Tywone Malone Jr. were each named All-Big Ten honorable mentions by both the coaches and the media. Sophomore defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and sophomore linebacker Payton Pierce each earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from the media.
Additionally, junior receiver Brandon Inniss was named as an All-Big Ten honorable mention as a special teamer. Senior kicker Jayden Fielding was also an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches. Senior long snapper John Ferlmann was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the media and to the third team by the coaches.
