It was only one year, but what a year it was.
Former Ohio State safety Malik Hooker grabbed a starting safety spot in 2016, took the opportunity and ran with it. And now, he has been selected by a BTN panel to the Big Ten’s All-Decade football team.
You’re simply not going to find too many guys as athletic as Hooker. But in his first and only season starting for the Buckeyes, he was able to take those athletic gifts and become one whale of a big-play safety, recording seven interceptions in just one season. He quickly became a First-Team All-Big Ten player and Consensus All-American out of nowhere.
That breakout year resulted in Hooker being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Joining Hooker as defensive backs on the All-Decade Team were Iowa’s Desmond King, Antoine Winfield, Jr. of Minnesota, and Michigan State’s Darqueze Denard.
Stay with us as we continue to follow the other Buckeye players that are announced by BTN as All-Decade performers.
You may be wondering about the ommission of Jeff Okudah like we were. Even though there’s an argument to be made for him also being included on the All-Decade Team, he was selected to the Second Team. We’re not sure that’s right, but maybe the BTN panel is getting Buckeye fatigue?
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.
