Aug. 6, 2009
University of Illinois senior defensive end Doug Pilcher has been named to the 30-man preseason watch list for the 2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award, as announced by The Ted Hendricks Foundation, Thursday morning.
Pilcher enters his fourth-year as a starter on the defensive line for the Illini. In his three seasons, Pilcher has accounted for 70 tackles and 19.5 for a loss 84 yards. He has wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks with eight sacks and 10 hurries. While being named to The Sporting News' Freshman All-Big Ten team in 2006, Pilcher started 10 games and has played in all 37 in his career.
Now in its eighth season, the Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football's first three-time first-team All-American. As a defensive end at the University of Miami, Hendricks used his agility, height and reach to block passes and kicks, force interceptions and pressure quarterbacks and running backs. 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. It is in the spirit of Ted Hendricks' aggressive style of play, winning attitude and determination that the Defensive End of the Year Award for college football's premier defensive end is presented.
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 (Freshman through Senior) 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).
2009 Ted Hendricks Award Watch List
Rahim Alem, LSU
Trevor Anderson, MICHIGAN STATE
Jeremy Beal, OKLAHOMA
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
Greg Middleton, INDIANA
Koa Misi, UTAH
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 Wootton, NORTHWESTERN
Willie Young, N.C. STATE
Frank Zombo, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
