Tommy Eichenberg named Big Ten Linebacker of the Year
COLUMBUS — Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has spent the last two seasons as a tackling machine, working as the quarterback of an improving Buckeyes defense.
He is yet again being honored for his stellar play.
Eichenberg was named to the first-team all-Big Ten team Tuesday, and he was also named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year by the Big Ten, the first Ohio State linebacker to earn that honor since the award was formed in 2011.
Eichenberg had 120 total tackles to lead the Buckeyes in 2022 and had 80 total tackles to lead the team yet again this season. The production dropped significantly this season, but his role changed a lot this season to lead to that drop off.
“We’re using him more to be a quarterback on the field,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said this season. “He’s become that guy that can see things that I see, think like me, and he can make changes and adjustments on the field. So I don’t know. Maybe we’re using him more for his mind and less for his aggression, but they’re still both involved. But he’s become really a true quarterback of the defense.”
And his peers on the Buckeyes defense have listened to their defensive quarterback.
“The whole defense follows and listens to what Tommy has to say, listens to his checks,” star Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom said. “And, man, we believe in what he does. So, yeah, it’s nice to have to have a quarterback back there. Giving us calls, giving us checks and helping us know what to expect.”
With the stats to back it up and the trust of his teammates, Tommy Eichenberg is the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. And he’s one of a big crop of Buckeyes defensive stars to be honored by the league on Tuesday.
The full list of defensive Big Ten honorees from Ohio State can be found below.
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Buckeyes on defensive, special teams All-Big Ten teams
First-Team All-Big Ten
LB Tommy Eichenberg (Coaches and media)
DE J.T. Tuimoloau (Coaches and media)
CB Denzel Burke (Coaches)
Second-Team All-Big Ten
DE Jack Sawyer (Media)
DT Tyleik Williams (Media)
K Jayden Fielding (Coaches)
Third-Team All-Big Ten
LB Steele Chambers (Media)
SAF Josh Proctor (Media)
DT Mike Hall Jr. (Coaches)
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
CB Davison Igbinosun
SAF Lathan Ransom
SAF Sonny Styles
DT Ty Hamilton
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