When the Northwestern football team played Kansas three weeksago, linebacker John Pickens was sitting on the bench, sidelinedwith a shoulder injury he suffered back in spring practice.

But on Saturday against Ohio State the senior played the bestgame of his career and earned himself the title of Big TenDefensive Player of the Week.

Maybe it’s just because it’s the freshest thing on his mindright now, but when you ask Pickens about his favorite footballmoment, he will say, “Beating Ohio State my senior year.”

“We were out there underneath the lights, hot crowd, teammateswere being loud. I mean, we were hyped for the game,” Pickens saidenergetically. “It was pretty awesome.”

Defensive tackle Luis Castillo said he noticed his teammate’sexcitement.

“You could see his smile from 100 yards away,” Castillosaid.

Pickens, who was NU’s third-leading tackler last season, hadgood reason to be so pumped up in his first start of theseason.

Not only was his family there to watch his team beat Ohio Statefor the first time in 33 years, but they also saw him set careerhighs in sacks and tackles for loss. Pickens also made ninedefensive stops and forced an important fumble right beforehalftime.�

But Pickens isn’t all that concerned about his award, the firstweekly honor of his career. He didn’t even know about it until hisroommate Taylor Jones brought it up.

“He told me congratulations, and I didn’t even know what thehell he was talking about,” Pickens said.

Instead, Pickens said pulling off the upset was the best part ofSaturday’s game. Pickens showed he has a craving for challenginggames, citing last year’s upset against Wisconsin as hissecond-best football memory.

“When you prove everyone wrong, it makes it that much moreawesome,” he said.

In his four-year career, Pickens has played especially wellagainst Ohio State. In last season’s 20-0 loss to the Buckeyes,Pickens logged 11 tackles and a team-high 73 plays. In 2002, heposted 17 tackles, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry in a27-16 defeat.

Pickens, from Franklin Lakes, N.J., is the guy who brings theenergy to the Cats. He said “hype” is the best word to use todescribe him, and shows his enthusiasm for the game when he talksabout it.

“He’s a guy that’s going to come out every play and playincredibly hard and have so much juice and so much heart andemotion,” Castillo said. “He’ll get guys going and playingharder.”

A fellow New Jersey native, Castillo played against Pickens inhigh school. (Pickens is quick to point out that his high schoolteam beat Castillo’s twice in the state championship game.) The twoalso were roommates freshman year.

“We got into it because we’re both real competitive guys,”Castillo said. “It’s like you’ll beat him in checkers, and you’llbe a fight for a couple of days. You might not be talking for awhile.”

Pickens is a “Simpsons” fan who loves chocolate chip pancakesand visits Chipotle at least six times a week. He has provedhimself not only competitive, but also talented and resilient.

When teammate Pat Durr suffered an injury in 2002, Pickenstemporarily was moved from outside linebacker to middle linebacker.Pickens said he experienced “growing pains,” and playing in themiddle was like being a “different world.”

Last season, he was switched back to his old position and wasthird on the team with 106 tackles. His play also became moreconsistent.

“(Pickens is) a guy who’s been around the block,” said coachRandy Walker. “He’s not only a good football player, he’s one ofour best players.

“And he’s playing really well.”

Reach Courtney McCarty at [email protected].