Mike Hull Named Bednarik Award Player Of The Week For His Performance Against Ohio State

Penn State linebacker Mike Hull had a monster night against Ohio State last week, and now it is being recognized nationally. Earlier today, Hull was named the Chuck Bednarik Award Defensive Player of the Week.

This doesn't really come as a surprise: Hull was all over the field against Ohio State. The senior racked up a career-high 19 tackles in Penn State's 31-24 loss to the Buckeyes. He also hauled in his first interception of the season -- which he returned for 12 yards to help set up a touchdown drive -- and 2.5 tackles for loss. Most importantly, Hull was the leader on the field, and was the best player on a defense that held one of the best offenses in America to zero second half points.

That wasn't the only honor Hull received from the fine folks associated with the Chuck Bednarik Award this week. On Tuesday, Hull was named to the Bednarik Award watch list. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in college football. On the season, Hull has compiled 83 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception while leading college football's ninth-ranked scoring defense.

If Hull is to win the award -- which has been given out by the Maxwell Football Club every year since 1995 -- it would be the fifth time that a Penn State player would earn the honor. He would join LaVar Arrington (1999), Paul Posluszny (2005, 2006) and Dan Connor (2007) as the Nittany Lion players to win the award. Penn State has also had more Bednarik Award winners than any other school: Nittany Lion players have won it four times, LSU and Northwestern players have won it twice and no other school boasts more than one winner.

Hull and the rest of the Nittany Lions will take on Maryland at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The game kicks off at noon, and will be televised on ESPN2.