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View Full Version : Brian Johnston(Gardner Webb) Named To Ted Hendricks Defensive End Of the Year Watch



OLDLCOACH111
July 2nd, 2007, 10:03 PM
Great for this kid, even though the chances are slim, this can only help his NFL stock...


CHICAGO, Ill. – Gardner-Webb rising senior Brian Johnston is one of 27 college football players named to the 2007 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award Preseason Watch List, awarded annually to the top defensive end in college football.

Johnston, a 6-foot-5, 280-pounder, is the only student-athlete from a non-Football Bowl Subdivision program named to the watch list – as players from a host of BCS programs, including preseason All-Americans Calais Campbell (Miami) and Derrick Harvey (Florida), comprise the other spots.

Michigan’s LaMarr Woodley won the award in 2006. Previous award winners include Louisville’s Elvis Dumerville (2005), Georgia’s David Pollack (2003-2004) and Arizona State’s Terrell Suggs (2002).

“Ted Hendricks was a great player during his college and pro career, and it is fitting to have a national award named for him. It is an honor to see one of our young men included for consideration to win this award in 2007,” said GWU head coach Steve Patton. “Brian Johnston has worked hard during his career here, and we feel he has a great chance to continue that career on the next level.”

Gardner-Webb’s Johnston, an All-America choice already this preseason by Street & Smith’s and Lindy’s College Football Preview, is coming off the best season of his college career. The standout pass rusher was dominant at times in 2006 after registering 77 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and a league-best 8.0 quarterback sacks. Johnston also led the Big South with a career-high 23 quarterback pressures, earning Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors along with second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Weekly Football Gazette. 


The San Diego, Calif., native (Madison HS) has led the Big South Conference in sacks each of the past two seasons, and ranks in the league’s career top-10 in both tackles for loss and sacks. He also ranks in the top-10 in Gardner-Webb history in both categories.

In addition to his long list of preseason awards, Johnston has been nominated for the East-West Shrine Game in Palo Alto, Calif., and the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., two of the most recognized postseason showcase games in the nation.

http://www.gwusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1064543&DB_OEM_ID=10300

kicker
July 2nd, 2007, 10:40 PM
congrats to the young man. i am really looking forward to seeing the dogs play this year. should be a good team.

Go...gate
July 2nd, 2007, 11:18 PM
Is that for FCS/FBS combined?

Thumper250
July 3rd, 2007, 09:23 AM
According to the award's website (tedhendricks.com) the award is available for any four-year NCAA accredited school. Same level award as the Biletnikoff (WR), Garza (kickers), etc.

Gaines Adams (Clemson) was one of the six finalists last year, with Woodley from the Wolverines taking home the hardware. And Old Coach is right, I would think this does nothing but help Johnston's status with pro scouts.

When's the last time an FCS/I-AA guy was on a watch list for a FBS-level award? Gordie Lauchbaum for Heisman?

g-webb1994
July 3rd, 2007, 02:22 PM
Awesome stuff....could be G-W's biggest impact in the NFL since Gabe Wilkins with the Packers in the mid 90's.xbowx

Sly Fox
July 3rd, 2007, 03:48 PM
Nice recognition for Brian. He certainly has the respect ofhis fellow Big South schools.