As far as defensive players come in the Jim Tressel era, they don’t come any better than A.J. Hawk did. A one-star recruit out of Centerville, Ohio, Hawk stepped in as a starter in 2003 and became a big-time star right out of the chute. He finished his career leading the Buckeyes in tackles three times, won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and won the Lombardi Award in 2005. Hawk finished up with 394 tackles, 15 sacks and seven interceptions in three full seasons as a starter for the Buckeyes. He could be one of the most likely players in the Jim Tressel era to have his number retired.
A.J. Hawk: A Defensive Legend in the Jim Tressel Era When it comes to defining defensive excellence during the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State, one name stands head and …
As far as defensive players come in the Jim Tressel era, they don’t come any better than A.J. Hawk did. A one-star recruit out of Centerville, Ohio, Hawk stepped in as a starter in 2003 and became a big-time star right out of the chute. He finished his career leading the Buckeyes in tackles three times, won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and won the Lombardi Award in 2005. Hawk finished up with 394 tackles, 15 sacks and seven interceptions in three full seasons as a starter for the Buckeyes. He could be one of the most likely players in the Jim Tressel era to have his number retired. Read More
