Calderwood's Preseason Honor List Grows By Two

LOGAN — Utah State University football player Ben Calderwood added two more preseason honors to his growing list of accolades, being named to the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award Watch List and the cbs.sportsline.com preseason all-WAC team.

Calderwood, a native of Smithfield, Utah (Sky View HS), has now been tabbed to a total of six preseason all-WAC lists. The honors list includes Street & Smith, Sporting News, Athlon, Blue Ribbon Yearbook and Lindy's College Football Preview.

 

Last season Calderwood earned second-team all-WAC after leading USU's defensive linemen with 44 tackles despite missing two games. He also was second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and tied for second in sacks with two. Calderwood earned WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 9 after USU's win against Fresno State, in which his nine tackles against the Bulldogs were the most by an Aggie lineman since 2003.

 

Calderwood is the only player from a Utah school on the 27-player Hendricks Award watch list and only one of two WAC players, joining Fresno State's Tyler Clutts.

 

The Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award is named in honor of college football's first three-time first team All American. Ted Hendricks used his agility, height and reach to block passes and kicks, force interceptions and defend 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 induction 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. On field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities and contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the award's winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the 125 members of the award voting committee.

 

Previous award recipients include Terrell Suggs of Arizona State, David Pollack of Georgia, Elvis Dumervil of Louisville and LaMarr Woodley of Michigan.

 

Additional nominees will be reviewed during the 2007 season with semifinalists announced in early November and up to five finalists announced November 26, 2007. The Hendricks Award announcement will be on December 6 with the formal presentation made at the Hendricks Award Gala in March 2008.

 

Utah State opens the 2007 season on Thursday, Aug. 30, hosting UNLV in a 6:05 p.m. kick off at Romney Stadium.

 

Contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435)797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for ticket information.