ST. LOUIS – After establishing himself as one of the surest tacklers in the league in his first year as a starter, Ethan Hull was named Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in Pioneer Football League, as announced by the league office Monday.
 
Hull, a redshirt-freshman from Crestwood, Ky., finished the year with 84 tackles, second-most on the team and ninth-most in a single-season in Jacksonville University football history.
 
After playing a limited amount as a true freshman due to injury, Hull established himself as a steady force at the middle linebacker spot this season, starting all 12 games. Of his 84 stops, 4.5 were for a loss, third-most on the defense, with one being a sack.
 
His two forced fumbles were tied for second among defensive Dolphins, with none bigger than his strip at the goal line in double overtime at Marist to help preserve the JU victory.
 
He led all freshman defenders in the PFL in total tackles, and was ninth overall in that category. He is the second Jacksonville player to take home the award, joining former Dolphin linebacker Mike Klein, who won it in 2010.