Washington Football star awarded Big Ten Medal of Honor
"The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their collegiate career," the conference said of the award in a press release.
Bruener, who was named to the 2021 and 2022 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, as well as the 2023 CSC Academic All-District Team, had a career year during Washington's first season in the Big Ten. He tallied 104 tackles and 3 interceptions on his way to an All-Big Ten Third Team selection in his final year of eligibility.
Bruener, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of April's NFL draft, was one of two linebackers in the Big Ten to record over 100 tackles and three or more interceptions, alongside Iowa's Jay Higgins, who was voted as a unanimous First Team All-American.
After carrying on his father Mark's legacy at Washington, where he was voted a captain by his teammates ahead of the 2024 season, he'll now have an opportunity to do that in the NFL as well. Pittsburgh drafted the elder Bruener in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, and the Steelers still employ him as an area scout.
The newly minted Big Ten Medal of Honor winner has a solid chance to make the 53-man roster ahead of his rookie season and at the very least, looks like he should be a contributor to coach Mike Tomlin's special teams unit.
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