Three B1G players named semifinalists for Jason Witten Man of the Year Award

Three B1G seniors were named semifinalists for the Jason Witten Man of the Year Award on Wednesday.

Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch and the players’ respective programs recognized the accomplishment on Twitter:

Another honor for Ohio State safety @j_fuller4. He's one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Man of the Year, a leadership award given to the football player who best exhibits courage, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 13, 2019

Punter @blakegillikin is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, presented to the college player demonstrating exceptional leadership, courage & integrity! 👏#WeAre pic.twitter.com/9qsYEk90jJ

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 13, 2019

THIS JUST IN: @KhalekeHudson has been named a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Man of the Year Award.

This award recognizes the top leaders in college football, each of whom has demonstrated a record of exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/f7MUoTQ063

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 13, 2019

Beginning with the 2017 season, the award is presented annually to the FBS player who best demonstrates an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship.

Former UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin won the inaugural award and former Wisconsin defensive back D’Cota Dixon took home the trophy last year.

Recruited by Ed Warinner and Greg Schiano out of Old Tappan High School in Westwood, New Jersey, Fuller has paired with junior Jeffrey Okudah to give the No. 2 Buckeyes an elite defensive backfield. Stout against both the run and pass, Fuller has accumulated 197 tackles (five TFL) and five interceptions in 40 games for Ohio State.

Penn State’s all-time leader at 43.1 yards per punt, Gillikin has appeared in all 49 games for the Nittany Lions since the start of the 2016 season.

A native of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Hudson replaced Jabrill Peppers in Michigan’s infamous “Viper” role. His versatility has helped him rack up 201 tackles (23 TFL), 10 sacks and two interceptions in 40 games as a Wolverine.

Witten himself starred for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2000-02, catching 68 passes for 797 yards and seven touchdowns. Selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 69 pick in the 2003 National Football League Draft, he is now in his 16th NFL season.

One of the best players in franchise history, he has totaled 1,168 receptions, 12,786 yards and 70 touchdowns in 248 games at the professional level.

Witten and the Cowboys (5-4) travel to Ford Field to battle the Detroit Lions (3-5-1) on Sunday at 1:00PM ET on FOX.

Routing Maryland, 73-14, last week, the Buckeyes (9-0) travel to Piscataway for a tilt with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-7) on Saturday at 3:30PM ET on BTN.

Dropping their first game of the season on Nov. 9, Gillikin and the No. 9 Nittany Lions (8-1) host Indiana (7-2) at 12:00PM ET on ABC.

Their first action since Nov. 2, Hudson and the No. 15 Wolverines (7-2) will face Michigan State (4-5) at 12:00PM ET on FOX.