Williams named to watch list for Hendricks Award
USC sophomore defensive end Leonard Williams is one of 22 players to earn a spot on the midseason watch list for the 2013 Ted Hendricks Award, according to an update based on games through Saturday.
Unstoppable · USC sophomore defensive end Leonard Williams has recorded 63 tackles and a team-leading 11 tackles for loss this season. – Ralf Cheung | Daily Trojan
The criteria for the award, which is given to a defensive end of any class standing at an NCAA accredited school, include on-field performance, leadership ability, contributions to respective schools and communities, academic performance and exceptional winning attitude.
Williams is joined by fellow Pac-12 defensive players Josh Mauro of Stanford, Scott Crichton of Oregon State, Tony Washington of Oregon and Chidera Uzo-Diribe of Colorado.
The list is open to additions and deletions until Nov. 25, when the selection committee takes its first vote to narrow down the list to 4 to 6 finalists. The committee will vote a second time to choose this season’s winner, who will be announced on Dec. 11.
At 6-foot-5 and 290 lbs., Williams leads the Trojans with 11 tackles for a loss. He also has five sacks and 63 tackles, both good for second-most on the team.
In USC’s upset victory over Stanford, Williams recorded seven tackles and one fumble recovery.
This season, Williams was also named a semifinalist for the 2013 Chuck Bednarik Award for outstanding defensive player of the year.
In 2012, the Daytona Beach, Fla. native was named Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and made the Football Writers, Sporting News, Scout.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele Freshman All-American first teams, in addition to All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He debuted as a defensive tackle before moving to end this season and played in all 13 games of 2012, starting in nine.