OSU pair wins conference player of the year honors

11/27/2012

COLUMBUS — Ohio State cleaned up the major Big Ten awards Tuesday, with quarterback Braxton Miller named offensive player of the year and defensive end John Simon honored as defensive player of the year.

Miller, who set a school record with 3,310 yards of total offense in his sophomore season, is the Buckeyes’ first conference offensive player of the year since Troy Smith in 2006.

Simon, a senior and the eighth two-time captain in OSU history, led the Big Ten with nine sacks and finished second with 14.5 tackles for a loss.

“It means a lot to win this award,” Simon said in a statement. “It is truly a great honor, but first and foremost it is a team award. I wouldn’t be given this award if it weren’t for the great play of my teammates … great coverage in the back end and guys taking up blocks on the front end. I praise those guys for helping me get this and that is what it is all about.”