University of Houston Athletics
Hunt Named To Another Watch List
7/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON, Texas - Just a day after representing the University of Houston at the annual Conference USA Media Day in Memphis, senior defensive end Phillip Hunt was named on Tuesday as one of the candidates for the 2008 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Hunt also is a member of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
Previous recipients of the Hendricks Award include: Terrell Suggs (Arizona State), David Pollack (Georgia), Elvis Dumervil (Louisville), LaMarr Woodley (Michigan) and Chris Long (Virginia). Marshall's Albert McClellan joins Hunt on the list.
A consensus First Team, All-Conference USA selection in 2007, Hunt returns in 2008 as one of the top defensive players in the country. Last year, Hunt-who was double and triple-teamed at times-led the Cougars and the conference with 10.5 sacks, while his team-leading total of 18 tackles for loss placed second overall in C-USA. He also had a nation-best 10 pass breakups for a defensive lineman, and finished the season with 49 total tackles.
Hunt is a consensus preseason All-Conference USA selection as 2008 approaches.
The Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year 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, 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.
The Cougars open fall practice on Sunday, August 3, when the entire team reports for a team meeting. Houston practices for the first time on August 4, and then takes part in its own Media Day on August 5.
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