CHICAGO, Ill. – Gardner-Webb defensive end Ty French has been named to the final watch list for the 2022 Ted Hendricks Award, which is given annually to the top defensive end in college football.
French (Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County HS) is one of only three FCS players on the list and joins Clemson's Myles Murphy as the lone representatives from the Carolinas. Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson won the Hendricks Award last season.
Individuals on the final watch list will be included on the award's first ballot. The 2022 recipient will be announced on December 7.
Previous award winners include Chase Young (Ohio State), Clenin Ferrell (Clemson), Bradley Chubb (NC State) and Jonathan Allen (Alabama). Terrell Suggs (Arizona State) won the inaugural award in 2002 and current ESPN College GameDay personality David Pollack (Georgia) won two consecutive awards in 2003 and 2004.
It marks the second time ever that a Gardner-Webb end has made the list, with French joining Hall of Famer and All-American Brian Johnston – who was on the Hendricks Award Watch List in 2007. Johnston was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft.
French was named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year following the 2022 regular season and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defender in the Football Championship Subdivision.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior has made 68 total tackles this season along with 15.0 tackles for loss (minus-97 yards) and a Big South-record 11.5 quarterback sacks (minus-72 yards). French also has 19 quarterback pressures this season in 12 starts.
He had a dominant stretch in October that saw French record 2.0 sacks in three consecutive games – including games against bowl eligible FBS foes Marshall and Liberty. French has 24.0 career sacks, which is only one shy of the Big South Conference's career mark held jointly by Liberty's Chima Uzowihe and Charleston Southern's Anton Williams.
Gardner-Webb's career mark of 29.0 sacks is held by Hall of Famer and 1996 Super Bowl Champion Gabe Wilkins (Green Bay Packers).
The Runnin' Bulldogs (7-5) play at No. 5 William & Mary in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday afternoon in Williamsburg, Va. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm (ESPN+).
2022 Ted Hendricks Award Final Watch List
Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State)
Zachary Blackiston (Heidelberg)
Karl Brooks (Bowling Green)
Ya Ya Diaby (Louisville)
Joe Evans (Iowa)
Viliami Fehoko (San Jose State)
Jordan Ferguson (MTSU)
Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame)
Ty French (Gardner-Webb)
TyJuan Garbutt (Virginia Tech)
Derick Hall (Auburn)
DeVonne Harris (Wyoming)
Zach Harrison (Ohio State)
Thomas Incoom (Central Michigan)
T.J. Jackson (Troy)
Deshuan Johnson (Toledo)
Durrell Johnson (Liberty)
Mohemed Kamara (Colorado State)
Will McDonald IV (Iowa State)
Isaiah McGuire (Missouri)
Mike Morris (Michigan)
Caleb Murphy (Ferris State)
Myles Murphy (Clemson)
BJ Ojulari (LSU)
David Perales (Fresno State)
Lonnie Phelps (Kansas)
Jose Ramirez (Eastern Michigan)
Dylan Ruiz (New Hampshire)
Jonah Tavai (San Diego State)
Jadrian Taylor (UTEP)
Bralen Trice (Washington)
J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State)
Tuli Tuipulotu (Southern Cal)
Jared Verse (Florida State)
David Walker (Central Arkansas)
Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech)
Keion White (Georgia Tech)
