#27 Amani Hooker Season 2016-17

Hawk-Item – – One of 10 true freshmen to see action in 2016 . . . one of five juniors named to 2018 Leadership Group . . . ranked second in Big Ten and 16th nationally in interceptions (4).

2018 Honors – – Named Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year in the Big Ten . . . second-team All-America by The Associated Press and USA Today . . . fourth-team All-America by Phil Steele . . . first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . first-team All-Big Ten by Associated Press and Phil Steele . . . Roy Carver Most Valuable Player, defense . . . Coaches Appreciation Award, defense . . . 2018 – – Shared team lead in interceptions (4) and pass break-ups (7), while ranking second in tackles (65) . . . started at strong safety in 33-7 win over Northern Illinois as defense allowed just 211 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo stops and three assists vs. NIU, along with an interception in the red zone . . . also had one tackle for loss, resulting in a safety . . . started at strong safety in 13-3 win over Iowa State as defense allowed just 19 net rushing yards and 188 yards total offense . . . seven tackles vs. ISU, including three solo stops and four assists . . . started at strong safety in 38-14 win over Northern Iowa as defense allowed just six net rushing yards and 222 yards total offense . . . recorded two assisted tackles and one pass break-up vs. UNI . . . started at strong safety in 28-17 loss to #18 Wisconsin . . . led team with 11 tackles vs. the Badgers, including two solo stops and nine assists, along with one pass break-up . . . started at outside linebacker in 48-31 win at Minnesota as defense allowed just 86 net rushing yards. . . recorded three tackles at Minnesota, including one solo stops and two assists, along with career-best two pass break-ups . . . started at outside linebacker in 42-16 win at Indiana as defense allowed just 67 net rushing yards . . . recorded four solo tackles and one pass break-up at Indiana . . . started at outside linebacker in 23-0 win over Maryland as defense allowed just 39 offensive plays and 115 yards total offense . . . recorded one solo tackle vs. Maryland, along with one interception and 13 yards return . . . started at outside linebacker in 30-24 loss at #17 Penn State . . . led team with six solo tackles at Penn State . . . started at outside linebacker in 38-36 loss at Purdue . . . five tackles at Purdue, including three solo stops and two assists . . . also contributed a shared tackle for loss and one pass interception and 11 yard return that led to Iowa touchdown (pick-six was called back due to penalty) . . .  started at outside linebacker in 14-10 loss to Northwestern . . . six tackles vs. Northwestern, including four solo stops and two assists . . . one sack and one pass break-up vs. Northwestern . . . started at outside linebacker in 63-0 win at Illinois as defense allowed just 216 yards total offense . . . recorded three solo tackles at Illinois, including one tackle for loss . . . one interception and 39 yard return at Illinois to go with one pass break-up and a nine yard punt return . . . started at outside linebacker in 31-28 win over Nebraska . . . six tackles vs. Nebraska, including four solo stops and two assisted tackles . . . started at outside linebacker in 27-22 Outback Bowl win over #18 Mississippi State . . . six tackles vs. MSU, including three solo stops and three assists.

2017 Honors – – Named to Associated Press All-Bowl team following his performance in Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College . . . 2017 – – Recorded 56 tackles, with 41 solo stops and 15 assists . . . also had two interceptions and one touchdown return, and two pass break-ups . . . saw action in 24-3 win over Wyoming, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 233 yards total offense . . . saw action in 44-41 OT win at Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 31-14 win over North Texas . . . recorded career-best three tackles vs. North Texas, including two solo stops and one assist . . . started at free safety in 21-19 loss to #4 Penn State for first career start . . . career-best 13 tackles vs. Penn State, including 11 solo stops and two assists, along with one pass break-up . . . started at free safety in 17-10 loss at Michigan State . . . five tackles vs. MSU, including four solo stops and one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 45-16 win over Illinois . . . recorded six solo tackles vs. Illinois, while collecting first career interception in Iowa end zone to stop an Illinois scoring threat . . . also had one rush for 18 yards while converting a fake punt, which led to an Iowa touchdown . . . started at strong safety in 17-10 OT loss at Northwestern . . . recorded seven tackles and one pass break-up at Northwestern, including four solo stops and three assists . . . started at strong safety in 17-10 win over Minnesota as defense allowed just 281 yards total offense . . . recorded six tackles vs. Minnesota, including five solo tackles and one assist . . . started at strong safety in 55-24 win over #3 Ohio State . . . returned pass interception 30 yards for first career touchdown on the opening play of the game vs. Ohio State, while also contributing one solo tackle and three assists . . . did not see action in 38-14 loss at #6 Wisconsin due to injury . . . did not see action in 24-15 loss to Purdue due to injury . . .  did not see action in 56-14 win at Nebraska due to injury . . . started at strong safety in 27-20 Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College as defense allowed just 21 net rushing yards and 102 yards total offense in second half . . . led team with 12 tackles vs. Boston College, including eight solo stops and four assists, including two touchdown-saving tackles that held Boston College to field goals.

2016 – – Saw action in all 13 games, primarily on special teams, recording three solo tackles and one assist . . . saw first action of career in 45-21 win over Miami, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 42-3 win over Iowa State, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 291 yards total offense . . . saw action in 23-21 loss to North Dakota State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 14-7 win at Rutgers, but had no statistics as defense allowed just one touchdown . . . saw action in 38-31 loss to Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 14-7 win at Minnesota, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 102 net rushing yards and 268 yards total offense . . . saw action in 49-35 win at Purdue, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 47 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 17-9 loss to #10 Wisconsin, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 41-14 loss at #12 Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 14-13 win over #2 Michigan, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 201 yards total offense . . . saw action in 28-0 win at Illinois, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 61 net rushing yards and 198 yards total offense . . . saw action in 40-10 win over #15 Nebraska, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 90 net rushing yards and 217 yards total offense . . . saw action in 30-3 Outback Bowl loss to #17 Florida, recording one solo tackle.

High School honors — Conference MVP as a senior . . . earned first-team all-state honors as a senior and was finalist for “Mr. Football” . . . second-team all-state as a junior and third-team all-state as a sophomore . . . first-team all-conference for three straight seasons . . . Career — Played defensive back, quarterback, running back, and wide receiver as a prep . . . set school record for interceptions in a season (11) . . . helped team post 9-3 record as a senior, while reaching state playoffs . . . team captain as a senior . . . also lettered in basketball.

Personal — Born June 14, 1998… business major . . . parents are Janice Hooker and Ray Hooker… high school coach was Paul Strong.