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 2008 Award Info>> Mid-Season Watch List >> Press releases >> Contact PRESS RELEASE RELEASE DATE: 2 DECEMBER 2008 2008 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED! Chicago, IL The Ted Hendricks Foundation has unveiled the list of finalists for the 2008 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Twenty five players received votes in the first round of balloting this season. Six have advanced to the final ballot. This years finalists are as follows: EVERETTE BROWN FLORIDA STATE 64 252 lbs JR Brown, a junior from Stantonsburg, NC, led the Seminoles in sacks (12½) for the second straight season. His sack total ranks third in the NCAA, and his 20½ tackles-for-loss are second-best in the nation. He was named to the All-ACC first team this fall. His highlight-game this season came against Maryland, when he recorded 3½ sacks. This was the first 3-sack performance by a Seminole since the 2002 season. JERRY HUGHES TCU 62 248 lbs JR Hughes, who is also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, leads the nation in sacks with 14. His 18½ tackles-for-loss put him in the top 10 nationally, and his six forced fumbles tie him for the NCAA lead. Hughes has 2 interceptions this year (one returned for a TD), and has been named the Mountain West Player of the Week three times. He leads a TCU defense that ranks second in total defense with 215.1 yards allowed per game. His highlight-game this season was against BYU, when he recorded four sacks and two forced fumbles. JAMMIE KIRLEW INDIANA 63 264 lbs JR Kirlew enjoyed a breakout season in 2008, gathering several school and conference honors. His 10½ sacks rank him second in the Big 10 Conference and in the top 10 nationally. His 19½ tackles-for-loss are fourth-best in the nation, and his 53 solo tackles lead all NCAA defensive linemen this season. Kirlew was also named first-team All Big Ten and IUs Most Valuable Player. His highlight-game came against Penn State, when he recorded 11 tackles (5 solo) and a forced fumble. He registered three multiple-sack games in 2008. AARON MAYBIN PENN STATE 64 236 lbs SO The Ellicott City, MD native stepped into the starting role this season and recorded 12 sacks (4th best in the NCAA), 19 tackles-for-loss (6th) and three forced fumbles (two resulted in Penn State TDs). Maybin recorded at least one tackle-for-loss in every game this season. His 2008 highlight-game came against Wisconsin, when he recorded 3½ sacks and 6 total tackles. Maybin is also a finalist for the Bednarik Award. BRIAN ORAKPO TEXAS 64 260 lbs SR Orakpo is also a finalist for the Nagurski and Lombardi Awards, as well as the Lott Trophy. Additionally, he has been named a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. In 11 games this season, he has recorded 10½ sacks (6th best in NCAA), 18 tackles-for-loss (11th in NCAA), 27 QB pressures and four forced fumbles. His highlight-game came against Oklahoma, when he registered 2 sacks, 4 tackles-for-loss, 7 total tackles, 2 pressures and a forced fumble. NICK REED OREGON 62 248 lbs SR Reed was honored as the Ducks Most Outstanding Player this week, becoming just the second defensive player to receive the award in the last 21 years. He leads the nation in fumble recoveries with 5, is second in the NCAA with 13 sacks, and ranks fifth with 19½ tackles-for-loss. Reed is also a two-time first-team Academic All-American, who has maintained a 3.44 GPA as a History major. He topped his regular season off with a 3-sack performance last week against Oregon State. The final vote for 2008 Hendricks Award will be concluded on December 8th , and the winner will be announced December 10th. Click here for the updated Hendricks Mid-Season Watch List. Previous award recipients include Terrell Suggs of Arizona State (2002), David Pollack of Georgia (2003, 04), Elvis Dumervil of Louisville (2005), LaMarr Woodley of Michigan (2006) and Chris Long of Virginia (2007). For more information on the Hendricks Award or to propose additional nominees, please contact: Sam Poulos Director Click here to save this press release as a PDF. |