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2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End Award Watch List

DE Jerry Hughes – Texas Christian

TCU consensus All-American Jerry Hughes has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2009 Ted Hendricks Award, presented to the nation's top defensive end. Hughes was a finalist for the 2008 Ted Hendricks Award and was also one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, recognizing the nation's best defensive player.
Draft Insiders.com ranks Hughes as the No. 3 defensive end available for the 2010 NFL Draft. Hughes also appears on watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy. Hughes led the nation in 2008 with 15 sacks and six forced fumbles. The 6’3” 257lb. senior from Sugar Land, Tx., also ranked in the top 10 in tackles for loss (19.5) and fumble recoveries (three). He added two interceptions, including one returned for a TD.

The Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football¹s first three-time first-team All-American. After his standout career at Miami (Fl.), Hendricks played 15 years in the National Football League. He earned selection to both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now in its eighth season, 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, he 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.

John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List

Photo – TE Dennis Pitta - BYU

Senior tight end Dennis Pitta is one of 30 individuals named to the 2009 John Mackey Award watch list, an award given annually to the most outstanding tight end in Division I-A college football. In addition to demonstrating outstanding athletic prowess on the field, the award also stands for positive sportsmanship-like behavior, good academic standing & exceptional leadership abilities. Pitta, a two-time 1st-team all-Mountain West Conference performer, ranked 3rd in the MWC and 21st nationally with 1,083 receiving yards in 2008. His total receiving yards also ranked 2nd among tight ends in the FBS behind only James Casey of Rice (1,329 yards). Pitta recorded four 100-plus yard receiving games in 2008, including the best single-game performance by a tight end with 213 yards against Northern Iowa on Aug. 30. NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.
The John Mackey Award presented since 2001, lists eight NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark ('01) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham ('02) of the Broncos, Kellen Winslow II ('03) of the Bucs, two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller ('04) of the Steelers, Marcedes Lewis ('05) of the Jaguars, Matt Spaeth ('06) of the of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Steelers, Fred Davis ('07) of the Redskins and the 2008 John Mackey Award recipient Chase Coffman of the Bengals.
The award recipient is determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, which is composed of respected members of the media and former NFL players, and will be announced on December 10, 2009.
The 2009 John Mackey Award preseason watch list was released by the Nassau County Sports Commission. Given annually to the best collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee

2009 John Mackey Award Watch List

College Football Awards Calendar

DE Corey Wootton - Northwestern

Award Watch List -Semifinalists/ Finalists/ Winner/ Banquet
Bednarik- Aug. 13/ Nov. 4/ Nov 23/ Dec. 10/Mar 5 (Atlantic City, N.J.)
Biletnikoff- Aug 10/ Oct 26 /Nov 23 /Dec 10 /Feb 13 (Tallahassee, Fl.)
Broyles - Nov. 30 / Dec. 8 / Dec. 8 (Little Rock, Ark.)
Butkus - Aug. 20 / Oct. 15 / Nov. 19 / Dec. 4-8 / Jan. (Chicago, Ill.)
Walter Camp - Aug. 7 /Nov. 12 / Dec. 7 / Dec. 10 / Jan. 16 (New Haven, Ct.)
Draddy - Oct. 1 / Oct. 29 / Dec. 8 / Dec. 8 (New York, N.Y.)
Groza - Aug. 12 / Nov. 9 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Dec. 8 (Palm Beach, Fl.)
Guy - Aug. 5 / Nov. 13 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Jan. (Augusta, Ga.)
Heisman - Dec. 9 / Dec. 12 / Dec. 14 (New York, N.Y.)
Lombardi - Aug. 18 / Oct. 14 / Nov. 11 / Dec. 9 / Dec. 9 (Houston, Tx.)
Mackey - July 29 / Nov. 16 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / April 26 (Carle Place, N.Y.)
Maxwell - Aug. 14 / Nov. 4 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / March 5 (Atlantic City, N.J.)
Munger - Nov. 4 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 15 / March 5 (Atlantic City, N.J.)
Nagurski - Aug. 19 / Nov. 18 / Dec. 7 / Dec. 7 (Charlotte, N.C.)
Davey O'Brien - Aug. 3 / Oct. 26 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Feb. 15 (Fort Worth, Tx)
Outland - Aug. 11 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Jan. 14 (Omaha, Neb.)
Rimington - Aug. 20 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Jan. 16 (Lincoln, Neb.)
Eddie Robinson - Dec. 9 / Jan. 5 / Jan. 5 (Los Angeles, Ca.)
Disney Spirit - Dec. 10 / Dec. 10 (Lake Buena Vista, Fl.)
Jim Thorpe - Aug. 6 / Nov. 4 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Feb. 8 (Ok City, Ok.)
Doak Walker - Aug. 4 / Nov. 12 / Nov. 23 / Dec. 10 / Feb. 19 (Dallas, Tx)

NFL Weekly Preseason Schedule

Photo - QB Peyton Manning - Colts

Hall of Fame Week
Sun, Aug 09 Stadium Time (ET)
BUF @ TEN Fawcett Stadium 8:00 PM

Week 1
Thu, Aug 13 - Stadium - Time (ET)
NE @ PHI Lincoln Financial Field 7:30 PM
WAS @ BAL M&T Bank Stadium 7:30 PM
ARI @ PIT Heinz Field 8:00 PM
DAL @ OAK Oakland Coliseum 10:00 PM

Fri, Aug 14 - Stadium - Time (ET)
STL @ NYJ Giants Stadium 7:00 PM
MIN @ IND Lucas Oil Stadium 7:30 PM
CIN @ NO Superdome 8:00 PM
DEN @ SF Candlestick Park 10:00 PM

Sat, Aug 15 - Stadium - Time (ET)
ATL @ DET Ford Field 4:00 PM
CHI @ BUF Ralph Wilson Stadium 7:00 PM
CLE @ GB Lambeau Field 8:00 PM
HOU @ KC Arrowhead Stadium 8:00 PM
TB @ TEN LP Field 8:00 PM
SEA @ SD Qualcomm Stadium 10:00 PM

Mon, Aug 17 - Stadium - Time (ET)
JAC @ MIA Land Shark Stadium 7:30 PM
CAR @ NYG Giants Stadium 8:00 PM

Week 2
Thu, Aug 20 - Stadium - Time (ET)
CIN @ NE Gillette Stadium 7:30 PM
PHI @ IND Lucas Oil Stadium 8:00 PM

Fri, Aug 21 - Stadium - Time (ET)
TEN @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 8:00 PM
ATL @ STL Edward Jones Dome 8:00 PM
KC @ MIN Hubert H. Humphrey 8:00 PM

Sat, Aug 22 - Stadium - Time (ET)
CAR @ MIA Land Shark Stadium 7:30 PM
DET @ CLE Browns Stadium 7:30 PM
PIT @ WAS FedEx Field 7:30 PM
TB @ JAC Jacksonville Mun Stad 7:30 PM
BUF @ GB Lambeau Field 8:00 PM
NO @ HOU Reliant Stadium 8:00 PM
NYG @ CHI Soldier Field 8:00 PM
OAK @ SF Candlestick Park 8:15 PM
SD @ ARI Univ Phoenix Stadium 10:00 PM
DEN @ SEA Qwest Field 10:30 PM

Mon, Aug 24 - Stadium - Time (ET)
NYJ @ BAL M&T Bank Stadium 8:00 PM

NFL Dates 2009-2010

Aug. 8 - Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Canton, Oh.
Aug. 9 - Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Oh.
Aug. 13-17 - First NFL Preseason weekend

Sept. 1 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players
Sept. 5 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players
Sept. 10-14 - Kickoff NFL 2009 Weekend

Oct. 12-13 - NFL Fall Meeting - Boston, Ma.
Oct. 20 - NFL Trading deadline.
Oct. 25 - International Series, London, England - New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Bucs

2010 NFL Dates

Jan. 3 - Regular season ends.
Jan. 9-10 - Wild Card Playoffs
Jan. 16-17 - Divisional Playoffs
Jan. 24 - Conference Championships
Jan. 31 - AFC-NFC Pro Bowl - Miami, Florida

Feb. 7 - Super Bowl XLIV - Miami, Florida
Feb. 24-March 2 - NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, In.

March 5 - NFL Free Agency begins.
March 21-24 - NFL Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

April 22-24 - NFL Draft 2010 - New York City

May 24-26 - NFL Spring Meeting, Dallas, Texas

NFL Draft Goes Primetime for Three Days

Taylor Mays - Safety - Southern Cal

The NFL announced that the 2010 NFL Draft will be held over three days starting on Thursday April 22nd. The opening round will be during primetime on Thursday evening beginning at 7:30 pm est. The NFL Draft will continue with the second and third rounds held on the Friday night beginning at 6:30 pm est while the remaining rounds, 4 through 7 held on Saturday starting at 10 am est. The three day event will be held at Radio City in New York City and carried by both ESPN and the NFL Network.

Kentucky's Jeremy Jarmon Highlights Draft Class
Free NFL Supplemental Issue for subscribers

DE Jeremy Jarmon - #99 - 6’3” 275 lbs. - Kentucky
This is a fairly strong class of prospects headed by Kentucky DE Jeremy Jarmon who will probably be selected in the middle rounds. He is a 6’3” 275 lb.+ defender with the versatility to play either up or down in either pro front seven that makes him attractive to all 32 NFL clubs. He opted for the Supplemental Draft after the NCAA ruled he was ineligible due to a positive test for a banned substance that he claims was an unapproved dietary supplement. He is a very good athlete with size, bulk and agility. He is a tough tackler with an excellent motor who is an every down defender for either pro scheme after proving to be stout at the point of attack vs the run. He uses his hands well to separate to get off blocks and win late on the down. He plays with good leverage and can fight through the double team block. He deflects passes very well when unable to get to the passer. He is an athlete with intriguing upside and rare versatility to be an interchangeable defender on a front seven. He is a smart athlete and a hard worker who produced in the tough SEC. He needs to get stronger and show additional moves inside as a pass rusher, in addition to improving his initial quickness and explosive on the snap. At his pro day in early July, he weighed in at just over 6’3”and 278 lbs and was timed in the 4.8 range in front of over half the NFL teams. He was a three year starter for the Wildcats, earning SEC honors his final two seasons. Over the ’08 season, he mad 38 tackles with 10 TFL and 4.5 sacks. Over his career, he started 31 of 38 games with 130 tackles for 30 TFL and 17.5 sacks. He also had 12 PBU with 6 coming over his final season. As a sophomore, he was more impressive with 13 starts with 62 tackles for 13.5 TFL and 9 sacks. He is a prospect who could have been a top 50 prospect next spring with a big ’09 season. He shows fine intangibles including a bright student who despite being a late addition should be a quick study for a playbook and contribute as a rookie. He can be a key front seven defender with some development and experience and the type of defender who can be the interchangeable starter who allows his club to be flexible playing both the 3-4 and 4-3 sets. He is best suited for clubs like the Ravens, Broncos, Patriots and Dolphins where his talent could surface the earliest in his pro career. He should be a solid middle round addition and possibly as early as the 3rd round. If he falls to the 4th round area, he could become a huge steal over time. Playmaker with fine upside potential to become a core defender on his club.

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