Local Linebacker Has Great Game Against 2-10 Team, Wins Defensive Player Of The Year

The best linebacker in the Big Ten headlined Indiana’s huge day as Tegray Scales was one of a school-record six defensive players honored on Wednesday.

Scales, who led the nation in tackles, led the Big Ten in solo tackles and finished seventh in interceptions, earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors alongside cornerback Rashard Fant.

Fant is the active career leader in the nation with 47 pass breakups, finishing with two interceptions and one touchdown this season, besting Jabril Peppers’ career numbers in both categories.

The quartet of Ralph Green III, Marcus Oliver, Jonathan Crawford and Marcelino Ball all were named Honorable Mentions.

Meanwhile, Peppers took home Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and the Rodgers-White Return Specialist of the Year despite finishing 32nd in the conference in tackles, 34th in sacks and 35th in interceptions.

However, he did rush for 74 yards in a non-conference game against rutger, a game he also fininshed with two total tackles in.

Also earning an award for the Hoosiers was redshirt senior Jacob Bailey, who was Indiana’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner.

The Big Ten will announce offensive award winners on Wednesday.