University of Connecticut Athletics
Witten Named Preseason Candidate For Hendricks Award
8/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - UConn senior Lindsey Witten (Cleveland, Ohio) has been named one of 30 preseason candidates for the 2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Now in its eighth season, the Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football's first three-time first team All-American.
Witten has played in 36 career games over the past three years for the Huskies with 81 career tackles, 10.5 career sacks and 16.5 career tackles for a loss. He also has a career interception and seven pass break-ups. He played in 11 games in 2008 for the Huskies with two starts and had five sacks.
The award is named after former University of Miami defensive end Ted Hendricks. He roamed the front line, read plays and blitzed on impulse, completely transforming the way the defensive end position was played.
His professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. It included four Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowl selections and inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the Award's winner.
Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the Award's voting committee. Candidates may represent any class as well as any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate's primary position must be defensive end.
Previous recipients of the Hendricks Award include: Terrell Suggs (Arizona State), David Pollack (Georgia), Elvis Dumervil (Louisville), LaMarr Woodley (Michigan), Chris Long (Virginia) and Brian Orakpo (Texas). This year's preseason candidates include, but are not limited to the following players:
Rahim AlemLSU
Trevor AndersonMichigan State
Jeremy BealOklahoma
Alex Carrington Arkansas State
Antonio Coleman Auburn
Jermaine Cunningham Florida
Dexter Davis Arizona State
Auston English Oklahoma
Brandon Graham Michigan
Greg Hardy Ole Miss
Jerry Hughes Tcu
Jan Jorgensen BYU
Sergio Kindle Texas
Jammie Kirlew Indiana
Brandon Lang Troy
Eric Lorig Stanford
Koa Misi Utah
Greg Middleton Indiana
Dontay Moch Nevada
Eric Moncur Miami
Doug Pilcher Illinois
James Ruffin Northern Iowa
George Selvie South Florida
Will Tukuafu Oregon
Lawrence Wilson Ohio State
CJ Wilson East Carolina
Lindsey Witten Connecticut
Corey WoottonNorthwestern
Willie Young N.C. State
Frank Zombo Central Mich.
