Chicago, Ill.----- San Jose State University defensive linemen Junior Fehoko and Cade Hall are two of the 34 outstanding players named on the first Ted Hendricks Award watch list for the 2021 season.
Named in honor of the first football player to earn first-team All-America honors in three consecutive years during the 1966 through 1968 seasons, the award recognizes the top defensive end in college football. Game performance, winning attitude, leadership, contributions to school and community factor into the selection process.
Hendricks went on to a lengthy National Football League career with the Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, and the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He played on four Super Bowl winning teams.
San Jose State, Clemson, and Ohio State are three Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs with two players on the Hendricks Award initial watch list.
After two games, Fehoko and Hall each have six tackles for the 1-1 Spartans whose next game is Saturday, September 18 at Hawaii. Fehoko has 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. Hall has 1.0 tackles for loss.
A year ago, Hall, earned All-America honors and was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He was tied for second nationally in quarterback sacks with 10.0 in seven games played. He also was 12th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.7) with his season total of 12.0.
In 2020, Fehoko earned first-team All-Mountain West honors after compiling 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks. Fehoko was the Mountain West leader and 17th nationally with his 12.5 tackles for loss total.
The 2021 award winner will be announced on December 8.
2021 Ted Hendricks Award watch list
| Player, School | Player, School |
| Praise Amaewhule, UTEP | Kwami Jones, Fresno Sae |
| Big Kat Bryant, UCF | George Karlaftis, Purdue |
| Zachary Carter, Florida | DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M |
| Khari Coleman, TCU | Boye Mafe, Minnesota |
| Brenton Cox, Florida | Ochaun Mathis, TCU |
| Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State | Will McDonald IV, Iowa State |
| Kingsbury Enagbare, South Carolina | Myles Murphy, Clemson |
| VILIAMI FEHOKO, SAN JOSE STATE | Scott Patchan, Colorado State |
| Ali Gaye, LSU | LaBryan Ray, Alabama |
| CADE HALL, SAN JOSE STATE | Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati |
| Derick Hall, Auburn | Tyreke Smith, Ohio State |
| Zach Harrison, Ohio State | Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State |
| Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan | Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon |
| Shane Irwin, Boise State | Xavier Thomas, Clemson |
| Draake Jackson, Southern California | Isaiah Thomas, Oklahoma |
| Trajan Jeffcoat, Missouri | Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington |
| Tyler Johnson, Arizona State | Zach Van Valkenburg, Iowa |