Ohio State fifth-year senior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg was named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year by the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday. He was also named First-Team All-Big Ten.
Eichenberg leads the Buckeyes with 82 tackles in 10 games this season. His 8.2 tackle-per-game average is fifth among Big Ten linebackers this season.
He averaged 9.5 tackles per game in October and November, and missed games against Michigan State and Minnesota late in the season due to an elbow injury. He returned for the Michigan game, where he had seven tackles.
Eichenberg also posted 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks this season, while forcing one fumble.
As a fourth-year junior last season, Eichenberg tallied 120 tackles and was named First-Team All-Big Ten and Second-Team All-America.
Eichenberg graduated in May with a degree in Real Estate. He was a member of Ohio State’s 2019 recruiting class, but redshirted that season as a true freshman. Due to the 2020 COVID season, he still has one year of eligibility remaining should he choose to use it, though that is not necessarily expected to happen.
The Butkus-Fitzgerald Award was created in 2011 and Eichenberg is the first Buckeye to win it.
Eichenberg is the lone OSU defensive individual award winner. The offensive awards and All-Big Ten offensive team will be announced early Wednesday afternoon.
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