Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Fisher led Indiana’s defense in the Hoosiers’ 30-20 upset at Oregon, finishing the game with 13 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Thanks to Fisher and a dominant defensive performance, Indiana held a dangerous Oregon offense to its worst outing of the year. Indiana got six sacks and eight tackles for loss against the Ducks while also intercepting quarterback Dante Moore twice.
Fisher leads the Hoosiers with 39 total tackles after leading the team with 118 tackles in 2024. After transferring to Indiana from James Madison ahead of the 2024 season, Fisher has become one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten.
Fisher is leading an outstanding off-ball linebacker trio with Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy. In an era where most teams don’t play three linebackers as a base defense, Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has done so successfully. The three linebackers combined for 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks against Oregon.
“The confidence in the (linebacker) room that we have right now, it’s hard to describe,” Fisher said after the win. “Just complete buy-in from each other. There’s not a single moment we don’t trust each other to do our job. And then we just feed off of each other.”
After being a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2024, Fisher is on track to do so again this year. On a field full of guys who will play in the NFL, Fisher often looked like the best player against Oregon.
Fisher is the leader of Indiana’s defense, and in many ways, he’s the leader of the entire team. His stellar play has helped Indiana get to 6-0, and it’s why he earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor.