Indiana Football: Analyst names Aaron Casey among Big Ten’s most underrated players

The Indiana football defense has been terrific through two games in 2023 and one of the leaders is linebacker Aaron Casey.

The sixth-year standout for the Hoosiers has helped the defense to Big Ten ranks of fourth in terms of defensive efficiency and second in third down defense among other very good categories.

On Wednesday, former Michigan tight end and current Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt named Casey as one of his most underrated players in the league this year.

Casey is among five players that Butt listed, including Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara, Rutgers defensive lineman Aaron Lewis, Maryland running back Roman Hemby and Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler.

Casey is coming off of a terrific 2022 season for Indiana in which he had 86 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. Through two games this year, he has totaled up 18 tackles, and one tackle for loss.

Related: Andre Carter leads Indiana football defense into big matchup against Louisville

Coming into the season, he was named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list.

“Aaron had a phenomenal season last year. He saw his growth and the confidence based on what he did last year,” IU co-defensive coordinator Chad Wilt said of Casey in fall camp. “But then the other things he is doing behind closed doors, the unseen stuff, the dirty hard work in the dark that nobody sees.”

Indiana football takes on a high-powered Louisville offense on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium — another chance for the defense and Casey to flex its muscles.