July 30, 2012
Complete 2012 Ted Hendricks Award watch list
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois senior defensive end Michael Buchanan was named to the preseason watch list for the 2012 Ted Hendricks Award on Monday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive end and the watch list marks the fourth that Buchanan has appeared on, along with the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Rotary Lombardi Award. Last year, Illinois junior Whitney Mercilus took home the honor as the nation's top defensive end after leading the nation with 16 sacks.
Buchanan looks to build off a successful 2011 campaign in which he served as an able bookend to Mercilus, totaling 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss among his 64 total tackles. He ranked fourth in the Big Ten in sacks and ninth in TFLs last season, part of an Illini attack that broke the school record for sacks per game (3.2) and had the second-most tackles for loss (103) in a season in school history.
Illinois now has had five players named to a total of 14 different watch lists heading into the 2012 campaign, as Buchanan joins junior linebacker Jonathan Brown, senior center Graham Pocic, junior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and junior defensive tackle Akeem Spence on the list of Illini earning preseason honors.
The Ted Hendricks Award is named for the former Miami three-time All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks. On-field performance, leadership abilities and contributions to school and community are some of the criteria used to determine the winner. The award's final midseason watch list will be released in November, with the winner being named on Dec. 5.
Illini 2012 Preseason Honors & Watch Lists (as of 7/30)
• Jonathan Brown, LB - Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Lott Trophy (Def. POY),Butkus Award (LB), Rotary Lombardi Award (OL, DL or LB), Phil Steele All-American (fourth team)
• Michael Buchanan, DE - Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Hendricks Award (DE), Rotary Lombardi Award (OL, DL or LB)
• Graham Pocic, C - Outland Trophy (Interior line), Rimington Trophy (C)
• Nathan Scheelhaase, QB - Davey O'Brien Award (QB)
• Akeem Spence, DT - Outland Trophy (Interior line), Rotary Lombardi Award (OL, DL or LB)
