TCU's Hughes Wins Ted Hendricks Award

TCU's Jerry Hughes has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Ted Hendricks Award, recognizing him as the nation's top defensive end.

Hughes was informed of the honor via a Tuesday night phone call from Hendricks, a College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame member. The Ted Hendricks Award will be presented to Hughes on March 21 at the Doral Golf Resort in Miami, Fla.

A two-time All-American, Hughes received nearly 60 percent of the votes cast in the final round of balloting.

Other finalists were Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma), Brandon Graham (Michigan), Sergio Kindle (Texas), Von Miller (Texas A&M), Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech) and Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh).

"Jerry Hughes has been a consistently outstanding performer in his four-year career at TCU," Hendricks said. I have enjoyed watching him become one of the top defensive ends in the nation. It has been a rare occurrence that our voting process has included as many as seven finalists.

"It's a huge credit to Jerry that he emerged with the overwhelming majority of the vote. I am very pleased to announce that Jerry Hughes is our 2009 winner. It's well-deserved!"

Hughes anchors the nation's top-ranked defense. He has 15 tackles for loss, including 11 1/2 sacks, among a career-high 54 stops. The Horned Frogs are 12-0 and headed to the Fiesta Bowl for their first BCS appearance.

A senior from Sugar Land, Texas, Hughes is a two-time finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, honoring the nation's top defensive player. He is also a finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award, Lott Trophy and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

After traveling to Charlotte, N.C., Monday for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy banquet, Hughes will be in Houston Wednesday for the Rotary Lombardi Award presentation. He will also head to Newport Beach, Calif., Sunday for the Lott Trophy announcement.

Hughes is just the third player to become a two-time Hendricks Award finalist.

Hughes is on pace to graduate this spring, in four years, with a degree in communications. In October, he received a Local Hero Award from Bank of America for his work in the community.

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box