Ohio State defensive linemen Joey Bosa and Michael Bennett are the latest Buckeyes to join the program’s long list of All-American honorees.
Bosa has been named a first-team selection by USA Today and both are first-team picks by CBSSports.com.
Bosa, a freakishly-talented sophomore, is the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year. He leads the conference with 13.5 sacks and 20 tackles-for-loss. Bosa might also have a shot at being a consensus All-American this year, which requires him to be named to five different award lists.
Upon the start of the season, head coach Urban Meyer said Bosa was "as good a defensive end as anybody in America." He was right.
But Bosa had help from Bennett, who came on particularly strong during Ohio State’s late push for the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff.
"He just finished his best three weeks as a Buckeye," Meyer said after they routed Wisconsin for the Big Ten Championship Saturday.
"I don’t know how he played — I think he played pretty good — but I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about his development as a leader and a guy that I can count on, a guy that doesn’t whine and moan and complain about stuff because that’s kind of how he got through it in the old days."
Bennett, a senior captain, has 36 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss and six sacks.
Fourth-ranked Ohio State will play No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl Jan. 1 in New Orleans.
