Clowney wins the Ted Hendricks Award

Jadeveon Clowney is the 2012 award winner of the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive end. Clowney won the award over five finalists including Sam Montgomery from LSU and Bjoern Werner from Florida State.

South Carolina sophomore Jadeveon Clowney was announced as the Hendricks Award winner Wednesday morning. The Hendricks Award is given to the nation’s top defensive end by the Hendricks Foundation and this is the first time the winner has been a sophomore in the 11-year history of the award.

Clowney won the award over five other finalists including Morgan Breslin from Southern California, Tank Carradine and Bjoern Werner from Florida State, Sam Montgomery from LSU and Damontre Moore from Texas A&M.

The record-setting season for Clowney included setting the single-season record for sacks in a year (13.0), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks in single game (4.5 vs. Clemson). Clowney has already received several nominations this year with a unanimous selection to the Associated Press All-SEC first team, Coaches All-SEC first team and AFCA All-American selection.

This is the first major award for Clowney this week as he has been up for several top national awards including the Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year), the Lombardi Award (top lineman or linebacker) and the Bednarik Award (top defensive player). Clowney lost to Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o for the Nagurski award earlier this week.

Ted Hendricks, the former star defensive end at the University of Miami and NFL linebacker for 15 seasons, had this to say about the award winner:

"Our committee has made another outstanding choice for this year's award. Jadeveon Clowney is an explosive football player who is always in pursuit of the ball. With his extra arm and torso length, as well as outstanding quickness, he is able to shed blockers, fire off the edge and pursue the ball carrier aggressively with purpose. He has a constant motor, a strong work ethic and never seems to tire. He gave opposing blockers nightmares all season. If they blinked, Jadeveon was already past them. I am pleased to add another outstanding student athlete to our Hendricks Award winners. Congratulations to Jadeveon Clowney!"

The formal presentation of the 2012 Ted Hendricks Award will take place at a time and place yet to be determined.

But for now, it’s another notch in the belt of South Carolina’s star defensive end.