Defensive Player of The Year
The Winner: Leo Musso
Other Nominees: TJ Watt, Vince Biegel, TJ Edwards
Our next award is part of a bracket style award as we will match the Defensive Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year to the overall Team MVP. Each award came with its tough debate, but this one was one of the hardest to choose, largely in part to Wisconsin’s dominating defense. Each player nominated had just as strong an argument as the other.
Watt was simply an all around play maker who seemed to dial up a sack whenever needed, while Biegel was the heart and soul of the defensive unit, while TJ Edwards quietly went about leading the team in tackles by a whooping 20 more tackles than Watt had. While each of the writers deliberated over who should win, in the end the award went unanimously to Leo Musso.
Musso’s exceptional 2016 season came out of nowhere, and propelled Wisconsin to a stellar 2016 season. While the other nominees may have the numbers, Musso had the heart and leadership that this team needed to have success. Musso had 65 total tackles over the course of the season, and put up a total of four interceptions along with the tremendous scoop and score against Michigan State. Musso was simply a gamer all season, and appeared as the ultimate leader for Wisconsin football. Its safe to say we all wish we had another year of Musso who will graduate in May.