TCU senior Bo Schobel and Cincinnati junior Trent Cole represent Conference USA on the second annual Watch List for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award, it was announced today. The Hendricks Award will be presented at the conclusion of the football season to the best collegiate defensive end in the country. The watch list was selected by a prominent committee of coaches, national media, and sports information directors.

On-field performance, leadership abilities and contributions to school and community are some of the criteria that will be used to determine the award winner. The candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any recognized four-year NCAA member school (Division I through Division III) The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end.

Schobel, a 6-5, 260-pounder from Columbus, Texas, was a first team all-Conference USA selection following the 2002 season. He finished third on the squad with 57 tackles, 19 of which came behind the line of scrimmage, while leading the nation’s top-ranked defensive unit. Schobel ranked among the league's top 10 in sacks with 7.5. He has been tabbed as the seventh best defensive end in the nation by The Sporting News and is a preseason All-Conference USA selection.

Cole, a 6-4, 227-pound junior from Wilberforce, Ohio, started nine games last year and finished fifth on the Bearcats with 87 tackles, fourth with 12 tackles for loss and third with five sacks. The preseason All-C-USA selection made a career-high 10 tackles in last year’s win at Louisville, recording a quarterback sack and a fumble caused and recovered.

During its inaugural year in 2002, the award was presented to Terrell Suggs of Arizona State University. Suggs, a first round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, recorded NCAA records of 13 career multi-sack games, 24 sacks for the season and 3 1/2 tackles-for-loss.


2003 HENDRICKS AWARD CANDIDATES
Nathaniel Adibi, Virginia Tech, Sr., 6'3", 255lbs.
Chad Lavalis, LSU, Sr., 6'3", 289lbs.
Adrian Awasom, North Texas, Jr., 6'5", 270lbs.
Antwan Odom, Alabama, Jr., 6'5", 273lbs.
Jason Babin, Western Michigan, Sr., 6'4", 265lbs.
Omar Nazel, USC, Sr., 6'5", 235lbs.
Dave Ball, UCLA, Sr., 6'6", 268lbs.
Shaun Phillips, Purdue, Sr., 6'3", 260lbs.
Isaac Brown, Washington State, Sr., 6'3", 235lbs.
David Pollack, Georgia, Jr., 6'3", 278lbs.
Cols Colas, Virginia Tech, Sr., 6'0", 226lbs.
Matt Roth, Iowa, Jr., 6'5", 268lbs.
Trent Cole, Cincinnati, Jr., 6'4", 227lbs.
Bo Schobel, TCU, Sr., 6'5", 260lbs.
Kevin Emanuel, Florida State, Sr., 6'4", 255lbs.
Andrew Shull, Kansas State, Sr., 6'5", 268lbs.
Simon Fraser, Ohio State, Jr., 6'6", 250lbs.
Will Smith, Ohio State, Sr., 6'4", 250lbs.
Parys Haralson, Tennessee, So., 6'2", 240lbs.
Derrick Strong, Illinois, Sr., 6'4", 245lbs.
Claude Harriott, Pittsburgh, Sr., 6'4", 255lbs.
Reggie Torbor, Auburn, Sr., 6'3", 242lbs.
Marques Harris, Colorado, Sr., 6'2", 230lbs.
Justin Tuck, Notre Dame, Jr., 6'2", 230lbs.
Howard Hodges, Iowa, Sr., 6'2", 255lbs.
Kenehi Udeze, USC, Jr., 6'3", 280lbs.
Jonathan Jackson, Oklahoma, Jr., 6'3", 235lbs.
Mario Williams, North Carolina State, Fr., 6'7", 254lbs.
Jason Kaufusi, Utah, Sr., 6'3", 250lbs.