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In an offseason quite different than last season for Indiana, one thing remains consistent and that is the national recognition for cornerback Tiawan Mullen.

Mullen announced his intentions to return to Indiana for his senior season this offseason and has earned multiple preseason honors, including landing on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List.

He added to his honors this week by landing on the Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten preseason team.

Mullen struggled with injuries in 2021, limited to just seven games. He totaled 19 tackles and three pass deflections.

In 2020, Mullen was a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten selection after having 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and seven pass deflections. Mullen became the first Indiana cornerback to earn First-Team All-America honors and just the second cornerback in school history to achieve All-America recognition.

Mullen was also named Honorable-mention All-Big Ten First-Team and The Athletic Freshman All-American. He had 29 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and led the Big Ten with 13 pass breakups.

“I don’t dwell on it, but it do add a little fire,” Mullen said during Big Ten Media Days. “You do have to remind people we’re not going back, you’re not complaining about, ‘Oh, we went 2-10 last season,’ but it’s just a reminder that we’re not going back. It happened for a reason. We’re not gonna keep mentioning it, but everybody knows what happened last season; that wasn’t us, that wasn’t our identity, but everything happens for a reason. It’s football. Just because you went 2-10, that doesn’t mean you can’t go 12-0 this season, or 10-2."

Indiana faces Illinois on September 2 for the home and season opener.

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