Preseason Honors: Gary, Winovich Named to Ted Hendricks Award Watch List
8/13/2018 2:06:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO -- University of Michigan defensive ends Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich have been named to the watch list for the 2018 Ted Hendricks Award, presented annually to the top defensive end in college football. Michigan, Clemson and Alabama are the only schools with multiple student-athletes on the preseason list of 36 players to watch for the award.
Michigan's preseason watch list honorees (as of Aug. 9)
Ben Bredeson, Jr., OL
• Outland Trophy Watch List (July 24)
Bredeson has been an important piece of the U-M offensive line since his arrival on campus. Playing mostly left guard, he has made 20 starts in his 25 appearances over two seasons and has helped the rushing attack pass the 2,000-yard benchmark in both campaigns. A two-year letter winner, Bredeson earned second team All-Big Ten selection last fall by the coaches, media and Associated Press. He helped three different U-M backs average 5.0 yards per carry or better in 2017 while helping them reach several historic rushing benchmarks, such as multiple 100-yard rushers, repeat 200-yard rushing performances and others.
Devin Bush, Jr., LB
• Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (July 16)
• Dick Butkus Award Watch List (July 23)
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (July 24)
• Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List (July 27)
Bush is a two-time letterman for the Wolverines and has 13 starts in 26 career games. Last fall, he was recognized with the team's Roger Zatkoff Award, presented to the team's top linebacker and he earned national recognition as a second team All-American by the Walter Camp Association and a third team honoree by the Associated Press. Bush also secured All-Big Ten honors (first team, coaches; second team, media). Bush led U-M with 102 total tackles last fall, including 10 for loss with 5.5 sacks and one interception.
Rashan Gary, Jr., DL
• Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (July 16)
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (July 24)
• Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List (July 27)
• Ted Hendricks Award Watch List (Aug. 13)
Gary is a two-time letterman at Michigan and was U-M's recipient of the Richard Katcher Award last fall, presented to the team's most outstanding defensive lineman or outside linebacker. He was an All-Big Ten choice by the coaches (first team), media and associated press (second team) last year in a breakout season. He totaled 65 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Gary has accumulated 13 starts in 26 appearances.
Zach Gentry, Sr., TE
• Mackey Award Watch List (July 20)
Gentry was named the team's Most Improved Player on offense following the 2017 season by the Michigan coaching staff. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2017 after catching a career-best 17 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Gentry grabbed three catches for 63 yards at Maryland, including a 33-yard touchdown reception. A two-year letterman, he has appeared in 20 games with 11 starting assignments after coming to Michigan as a quarterback.
Karan Higdon, Sr., RB
• Maxwell Award Watch List (July 16)
• Doak Walker Award Watch List (July 18)
Michigan's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Higdon was an All-Big Ten third team selection in 2017 after compiling more than 1,000 all-purpose yards with 11 touchdowns. He is a three-year letterwinner with seven starts under his belt, and led Michigan last fall with 164 carries for 994 yards, adding another eight receptions for 131 yards.
Lavert Hill, Jr., DB
• Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (July 23)
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (July 24)
Hill earned All-Big Ten honors from the coaches, associated press (second team) and media (honorable mention) in 2017 after a standout season that saw him finish with 25 tackles, nine pass breakups and five tackles for loss. He anchored a secondary that led the nation in pass defense last fall while U-M became the first unit since 2004-05 Alabama to allow fewer than 1,750 passing yards in consecutive seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, Hill is the highest-graded returning cornerback on any Power Five team after earning an 87.5 season grade from the publication in 2017. Hill has earned two varsity letters with 12 career starts in 23 games played.
Khaleke Hudson, Jr., LB
• Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (July 16)
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (July 24)
Hudson was an All-Big Ten selection last fall (third team, coaches; second team, Associated Press) playing in the viper position on U-M's aggressive defense. He earned his second varsity letter and started all 12 games, setting several records in a memorable performance against Minnesota. Hudson recorded 15 total stops (12 solo) in that contest, with eight tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble. His eight tackles for loss tied the NCAA record and set a new mark in Michigan history. Hudson totaled 83 tackles on the season, 18.5 for loss (No. 2 in the Big Ten), eight sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Bryan Mone, 5th Sr., DL
• Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List (Aug. 9)
Mone is a three-year letterwinner and steady early-down run-stuffer along the defensive line for Michigan. He has made eight starts in 35 career appearances. Mone has totaled 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries and another 2 pass breakups in his career at U-M. He had his best career game against Ohio State last fall, assisting on five tackles.
Sean McKeon, Jr., TE
• Mackey Award Watch List (July 20)
Earning All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media in 2017, McKeon played in all 13 games this past season, making 10 starts at tight end. He was the team's leading receiver with 31 catches for 301 yards and three touchdowns. McKeon was particularly effective in Big Ten play, catching 24 passes for 257 yards and all three of his touchdowns.
Quinn Nordin, Jr., K
• Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award Watch List (July 25)
Nordin had a historic 2017 season for U-M, earning his first varsity letter while receiving honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from the coaches and media. He was Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on two occasions and was recognized as a midseason All-American by The Athletic. He totaled 92 points in 13 games and worked his way into the record books for: most field goals made in a single game (tied for most; five), most field goals of 40 yards or more in a single season (ranks second; six) and as the first freshman kicker to convert more than one 50-yard field goal in the same game (50, 55 yards).
Shea Patterson, Jr., QB
• Maxwell Award Watch List (July 16)
Patterson joined U-M after earning two varsity letters at Mississippi (2016-17), where he started 10 contests. Patterson totaled 3,139 yards passing with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his time with the Rebels, taking over the job for the final three games of his freshman campaign in 2016. He racked up eight 300-yard passing performances, completing 60.7 percent of passes (238-of-392) overall.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, So., WR
• Paul Hornung Award Watch List (July 26)
A freshman All-American return man last fall, Donovan Peoples-Jones also earned recognition as a returner at the conference level (honorable mention; media) and as Michigan's 2017 Rookie of the Year. He caught 22 passes, returned 40 punts and amassed 654 all-purpose yards while playing wide receiver, earning his first varsity letter and appearing in all 13 games. In just his third career game, Peoples-Jones scored the longest return touchdown by any Wolverine since 2006 with a 79-yard punt return score against Air Force.
Chase Winovich, Sr., DL
• Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (July 16)
• AFCA Good Works Team Watch List (July 17)
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (July 24)
• Ted Hendricks Award Watch List (Aug. 13)
Winovich has 14 starts in 32 career games of action. He was selected as the 2017 Blue Collar Award winner as the Wolverines' hardest working player by his teammates. Winovich was named 2017 All Big Ten selections (first team, media; second team, coaches). He led the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss (1.4 avg.) and finished second in sacks (.62 avg.). Winovich was selected Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Weekend for his game vs. Purdue (8 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, and 2.5 sacks). He has produced 115 tackles, 28.5 TFLs and 14 sacks during his career. Heavily involved in the community, Winovich worked with the ChadTough Foundation to raise more than $400,000 for pediatric cancer research and frequently visits patients at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
