Smoot Part Of Top Defensive End Watch List
August 5, 2016 | Football
Dawuane Smoot, DE, Hendricks Award Watch List
Illinois senior defensive end Dawuane Smoot was named to the Ted Hendricks Award watch list. The watch list is the second of the season for Smoot after he was included on Bednarik Award list earlier in July (defensive player of the year).
The Ted Hendricks Award
The Hendricks Award goes to the defensive end of the year in college football. On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are criteria for award selection. The honor is named after former Miami (Fla.) defensive lineman Ted Hendricks, college football's first three-time first-team All-American.
» Full Watch List
» Last three winners: Carl Nassib (Penn State), Nate Orchard (Utah), Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas)
» Illinois winner: Whitney Mercilus (2011)
Dawuane Smoot
• Senior defensive lineman from Groveport, Ohio (Groveport Madison HS)
• Bednarik Award watch list (defensive player of the year)
• Ranked as the No. 20 player in college football by Pro Football Focus
• All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2015
• Started all 12 games on the defensive line in 2015
• 40 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, two PBUs, three QB hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2015
• Led the team in TFLs (15.0) and sacks (8.0) in 2015
• Most TFLs in a single season by an Illini since All-American Whitney Mercilus had 22.5 in 2011
• Majoring in sport management
| SMOOT - CAREER STATS | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yr | G | Solo | Assisted | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | PD | FF | FR | BLK |
| 2013 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 33 | 7.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 12 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 15.0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 42 | 39 | 81 | 23.5 | 11.5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Illini on 2016 Preseason Watch Lists (as of 8/5)
Wes Lunt – Maxwell Award (Off. POY), Davey O'Brien Award (QB), Unitas Golden Arm Award (QB)
Hardy Nickerson – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Butkus Award (LB)
Dawuane Smoot – Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Hendricks Award (DE)
Joe Spencer – Rimington Trophy (C), Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service)
Ke'Shawn Vaughn – Doak Walker (RB)
