Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Award Winners

  • * indicates bowl stats included
Award Winners Table
Year Player School Summary
2025Caleb Downs*Ohio State45 Solo, 23 Ast, 1.0 Sk, 2 Int
2024Abdul Carter*Penn State43 Solo, 25 Ast, 12.0 Sk, 0 Int
2023Jer'Zhan NewtonIllinois26 Solo, 26 Ast, 7.5 Sk, 0 Int
2022Jack Campbell*Iowa60 Solo, 68 Ast, 1.0 Sk, 2 Int
2021Aidan Hutchinson*Michigan36 Solo, 26 Ast, 14.0 Sk, 0 Int
2020Daviyon NixonIowa22 Solo, 23 Ast, 5.5 Sk, 1 Int
2019Chase Young*Ohio State32 Solo, 14 Ast, 16.5 Sk, 0 Int
2018Devin Bush*Michigan38 Solo, 40 Ast, 5.0 Sk, 0 Int
2017Josey Jewell*Iowa69 Solo, 67 Ast, 4.5 Sk, 2 Int
2016Jabrill Peppers*Michigan47 Solo, 25 Ast, 4.0 Sk, 1 Int
2015Carl Nassib*Penn State31 Solo, 15 Ast, 15.5 Sk, 1 Int
2014Joey Bosa*Ohio State39 Solo, 16 Ast, 13.5 Sk, 0 Int
2013Chris Borland*Wisconsin72 Solo, 39 Ast, 4.0 Sk, 0 Int
2012John SimonOhio State22 Solo, 22 Ast, 9.0 Sk
2011Devon Still*Penn State29 Solo, 26 Ast, 4.5 Sk
2010Ryan KerriganPurdue50 Solo, 20 Ast, 12.5 Sk, 0 Int
2009Greg Jones*Michigan State67 Solo, 87 Ast, 9.0 Sk, 0 Int
2008James Laurinaitis*Ohio State52 Solo, 78 Ast, 4.0 Sk, 2 Int
2007James Laurinaitis*Ohio State51 Solo, 70 Ast, 5.0 Sk, 2 Int
2006Lamarr Woodley*Michigan28 Solo, 8 Ast, 12.0 Sk, 0 Int
2005A.J. Hawk*Ohio State69 Solo, 52 Ast, 9.5 Sk, 1 Int
2004Erasmus James*Wisconsin
2003Will Smith*Ohio State
2002Michael Haynes*Penn State1 FR, 12 Yds, 0 TD
2001Larry FooteMichigan
2000Jamar FletcherWisconsin6 Int, 159 Yds, 0 TD
1999Courtney BrownPenn State1 Int, 25 Yds, 1 TD
1998Tom BurkeWisconsin
1997Charles WoodsonMichigan7 Int, 7 Yds, 0 TD
1996Pat FitzgeraldNorthwestern2 Int, 25 Yds, 0 TD
1995Pat FitzgeraldNorthwestern1 Int, 7 Yds, 0 TD
1994Dana HowardIllinois2 Int, 63 Yds, 0 TD
1993Dana Howard (tie)Illinois
1993Dan Wilkinson (tie)Ohio State
1992Jeff ZgoninaPurdue
1991Troy VincentWisconsin2 Int, 110 Yds, 1 TD
1990Darrick BrownlowIllinois2 Int, 13 Yds, 0 TD