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 2009 Award Info>> Mid-Season Watch List >> Press releases >> Contact PRESS RELEASE RELEASE DATE: 1 DECEMBER 2009 2009 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED! Chicago, IL The Ted Hendricks Foundation has unveiled the list of finalists for the 2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. For the Second consecutive year, twenty five players received votes in the first round of balloting. Seven have advanced to the final ballot. This years finalists are as follows: JEREMY BEAL - OKLAHOMA 63 261 lbs JR Beal, a junior from Carrollton, TX, led the Sooners in sacks (11) for the second straight season. He finished the regular season with 65 tackles, 18 for loss and an interception. His sack total this season ties for 4th-best in Oklahoma history and his tackles for loss total ranks 11th. Nationally, Beal ranks T-10th in sacks and T-12th in tackles for loss. Beal's highlight game this season came in the Red River rivalry game vs Texas, when he recorded 12 tackles. BRANDON GRAHAM - MICHIGAN 62 263 lbs SR As the nation's leader in tackles for loss (26), the senior from Detroit, MI was named to the 2009 All-Big Ten first team by the conference coaches and media. His 20 tackles for loss in Big Ten play led the conference and was 5½ more than his closest competition. Graham also finished the regular season with 10½ sacks (top 15 nationally), 2 blocked punts and one touchdown off another blocked punt. JERRY HUGHES TCU 63 257 lbs SR Hughes is a Hendricks Award Finalist for the second consecutive season. He is also a finalist for the 2009 Nagurski and Lombardi Awards this fall. A senior from Sugar Land, TX, Hughes has recorded 11½ sacks, 15 tackles for loss and seven QB hurries this season. He was named a consensus All-American in 2008 after leading the nation with 15 sacks. Last month, Hughes was honored with the "Local Hero Award" by Bank of America for his community work. He plans on graduating this spring with his degree in communications. SERGIO KINDLE - TEXAS 64 255 lbs SR The Dallas, TX native has recorded just three sacks this season, but has been credited with being the most disruptive player on the Longhorn defense. Kindle has recorded 17 tackles for loss and an astounding 31 QB hurries, to go along with two fumbles forced. VON MILLER - TEXAS A&M 63 240 lbs JR Miller, a junior from DeSoto, TX, enjoyed a breakout season for the Aggies and was named a first-team 2009 All-Big 12 defensive end. He leads the nation in sacks with 17 and ranks fourth in the nation with 21 tackles for loss. His sack total is just three shy of the A&M school record. Miller also has recorded a team-high four fumbles forced and a second-best five passes broken up. DERRICK MORGAN - GEORGIA TECH 64 272 lbs JR Morgan led all defensive vote recipients as he was named to the first-team All-ACC team this week. The junior from Coatesville, PA led the conference in sacks with 12½ (tied for 4th nationally). He is just the 7th player in Georgia Tech history record 10 or more sacks in a single season. His 35 solo tackles this season also ranks him in the top ten nationally among defensive linemen. GREG ROMEUS - PITTSBURGH 66 270 lbs JR Romeus, a junior from Coral Springs, FL, recorded just 8 sacks on the season, but garnered votes from across the nation. He has clearly been the leader of the Panther defense this season. His highlight games so far this season have come against Louisville, where he recorded 3½ sacks, and last week at West Virginia, where he posted a season-high seven tackles. Romeus' blocked extra point against Notre Dame this season was his third career blocked kick. The final vote for 2008 Hendricks Award will be concluded on December 8th , and the winner will be announced December 9th. 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), Chris Long of Virginia (2007) and Brian Orakpo of Texas (2008). 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. |