University of Tennessee Athletics
Barnett Named Finalist For Hendricks Award
December 02, 2016 | Football
CHICAGO -- Tennessee junior defensive end Derek Barnett has been named one of six finalists for the 2016 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award, as announced on Friday by the Ted Hendricks Foundation.
The award is in its 15th season and 18 players received votes on the first ballot. The other five finalists include Alabama senior Jonathan Allen, Utah senior Hunter Dimick, Boston College junior Harold Landry, Pittsburgh senior Ejuan Price and Florida State junior DeMarcus Walker.
The final vote for the 2016 Ted Hendricks Award will take place on Dec. 6 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 7.
Barnett is enjoying the best season of his career and has secured his spot in history as one of the greatest defensive ends in Tennessee, SEC and NCAA football history. On Nov. 26, he recorded the 32nd sack of his career, tying the late great Reggie White for the most sacks in Tennessee history. On the season, he amassed 50 tackles, a career-high 12.0 sacks, 18.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups, one interception and 12 quarterback hurries.
Barnett, who is also a candidate for the Rotary Lombardi Award and All-SEC and All-America honors, leads the SEC with 12.0 sacks (all in conference play) and stands as the only player in SEC history to record 10.0 sacks in three seasons.
Barnett has most career sacks (32.0) of the six Ted Hendricks Award finalists. Both Barnett and Price have 51.0 career tackles for loss, tying for the most in the nation. Barnett's 12.0 sacks against Power 5 teams ranks second in the nation only to Walker's 14.0.
Barnett also has 51.0 career tackles for loss, tying him with White for second in program history. He trails only Leonard Little, who holds the Tennessee record with 53.0 career tackles for loss.
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 (Fla.), Ted 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.
