Joey Bosa

Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When is it OK to accept an award with a shrug? When Joey Bosa wins that award.

Bosa was named the Big Ten's Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday night. The last Ohio State player to win the award was John Simon in 2012. Buckeyes have won the award five times since 2000.

Bosa, named the conference Defensive Lineman of the Year on Monday, leads the Big Ten in sacks (13.5) and tackles for loss (20), and is fourth and fifth nationally in those categories, respectively. He's already been named a finalist for the Lombardi Award, awarded to the nation's best lineman or linebacker, and the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's best defensive player.

He's a half-sack away from tying Ohio State's single-season record. Last month, Bosa said he'd do a back flip if he breaks the record.

Just a sophomore, Bosa has already built a reputation as one of the more dynamic defensive players in the country. He had a rare walk-off sack in Ohio State's double-overtime win over Penn State on Oct. 25. He had a season-high 2.5 sacks in that game.

Bosa had two sacks in Ohio State's win over Michigan last week. He's forced four fumbles this season, and been a points machine for the Buckeyes. His four forced fumbles have led directly to 30 points for Ohio State.