Indiana Linebacker Aaron Casey Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

As Aaron Casey sacked Braedyn Locke with 24 seconds on the clock, he not only sealed Indiana's 20-14 win over Wisconsin – he put an exclamation point on arguably the best game of his Indiana career.

On Monday, Casey, a sixth-year senior linebacker and team captain, was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. 

He finished the game with nine tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. He also forced a fumble early in the fourth quarter, which led to Indiana's first fumble recovery of the season. 

Casey is the first Hoosier to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors since linebacker Micah McFadden coincidentally logged nine tackles and two sacks in the Hoosiers' 14-6 win at No. 18 Wisconsin in 2020. Indiana has now won consecutive games against Wisconsin for the first time since 2001-02.

Casey's performance against Wisconsin continues a strong season for the Douglasville, Georgia native. In 2023, he leads all Power 5 teams with 16 tackles for loss or no gain, per Pro Football Focus. Casey is ranks first in the Big Ten and No. 7 nationally with 13.5 tackles for loss, and he's No. 4 in the conference with 5.5 sacks.

"I think just a testament, once again, to [Casey's] character," Indiana coach Tom Allen said Monday. "He was really bothered by how he played against Rutgers, to be honest with you, and we weren't afraid to hold him accountable for that because he's a leader and he's expected to play at a high level each and every week, and he didn't do that, and he knew that. As a matter of fact, he sought me out."

"Just love the way he's responded to that, being the leader of our team, and definitely the leader of our defense. When you're a captain as a linebacker you've got to lead that side of the ball just by default because that's what linebackers do, but what you're the captain you've got to lead the team."

"So just being a consistent guy that practices hard every day, does little things right on and off the field and getting recognized for the defensive player of the week, Big Ten Player of the Week this week is huge and very well-deserving."