Three Buckeyes named All-Americans
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- You'd have to go back to the 2008 season to find that last time that a member of the Ohio State football team found himself named a first-team All-American by The Associated Press. Today, that streak was extended another season, with no members of this season's undefeated Buckeyes being selected to the AP's 2012 All-American first team.
Two OSU defenders, however, were named to the AP's second team, with another being named to the third team.
One day after declaring early for the NFL Draft, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins was named a second team AP All-American thanks to a junior season that saw the first-team All-Big Ten selection record 55 tackles- four of which came for a loss- and one sack. Draft analysts view the 6-foot-3, 322-pound Dearborn Heights, Mich. native as a consensus first round pick in the upcoming draft, after a three-year career with the Buckeyes saw him record 138 tackles- 16.5 of which came for a loss- and five sacks.
Before deciding whether or not to join Hankins in the 2013 NFL Draft, OSU sophomore cornerback Bradley Roby joined the Buckeyes' defensive tackle on the AP All-American second team. After redshirting in 2010 and starting in 2011, the Suwannee, Ga. native had a breakout season in 2011, finishing second in the country in passes defended with 19 (17 break-ups, two interceptions) and recorded three interceptions, including one interception return, one recovered fumble, and one recovered botched snap.
Finishing third on the team with 63 tackles, the third-year corner is currently deciding whether to return to Ohio State for his junior season or test the waters of the NFL Draft.
In what is just the latest honor that he's collected this year, defensive end John Simon was named to the AP's All-American third team for the second consecutive season on Tuesday. A stellar senior season saw the Youngstown, Ohio native named a first team All-Big Ten selection, the conference's defensive lineman of the year, as well as its defensive player of the year.
Leaving Ohio State as its No. 7 leader in both sacks and tackles for a loss, Simon capped off his college career with a senior season the saw him lead the Big Ten in sacks with nine, while recording 45 tackles- 14.5 of which came for a loss- in 11 games. The two-time Buckeyes captain tied his school's record for sacks in a game with four in OSU's Nov. 17 win over Wisconsin, which would ultimately be the final game of his college career.
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