Alabama Football: Jonathan Allen Wins Hendricks Award
By David Wasson
The Ted Hendricks Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate defensive end. Allen is the first Alabama football recipient.
Alabama football senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen is the recipient of the 2016 Ted Hendricks Award, the Ted Hendricks Foundation announced Wednesday.
The Ted Hendricks Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate defensive end. Allen is the first recipient from Alabama.
The honor is the second national award for Allen this week. The Leesburg, Va., native received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday. Allen is also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Allen has been a force for a defense that leads the nation in total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense and defensive touchdowns. Allen leads the Tide in quarterback hurries (15) and shares the team lead in sacks (8.5) to go along with 13.0 tackles for loss.
Alabama Crimson Tide
He has also returned a team-leading two fumble recoveries for 105 combined yards and two touchdowns. His 26.5 career sacks places him second on the Tide’s all-time list behind former Crimson Tide standout and NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.
Allen was joined a finalist for the award by Utah’s Hunter Dimick, Tennessee’s Derek Barnett, Boston College’s Harold Landry, Pitsburgh’s Ejuan Price and Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker.
The award will be presented to Allen at the 2016 Hendricks Award Dinner in Miami, Fla., in early 2017.
Allen and the Alabama Crimson Tide are the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoffs, and will face the No. 4 Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 31.
The Crimson Tide and Huskies have met four times previously, with the most recent contest coming in the 1986 Sun Bowl when the Crimson Tide defeated the Huskies, 28-6, to cap off a 9-3 season.
The winner of the matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Huskies will meet the winner of the game matching the No. 2 Clemson Tigers and the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, who will play in the other CFP Semifinal Game at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The 2017 CFP National Championship Game is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Next: Voting continues for best Alabama football player ever
Alabama, making its 65th appearance in a postseason game, has played in more bowl games and earned more postseason victories than any school in college football history. Alabama is making a postseason appearance for the 10th consecutive season under head coach Nick Saban and the 13th straight season overall for the school.