Rahim Alem, LSU

Trevor Anderson, Michigan State

Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

Alex Carrington, Arkansas State

Antonio Coleman, Auburn

Jermaine Cunningham, Florida

Dexter Davis, Arizona State

Auston English, Oklahoma

Randon Graham, Michigan

Greg Hardy, Ole Miss

Jerry Hughes, TCU

Jan Jorgensen, BYU

Sergio Kindle, Texas

Jammie Kirlew, Indiana

Brandon Lang, Troy

Eric Lorig, Stanford

Greg Middleton, Indiana

Koa Misi, Utah

Dontay Moch, Nevada

Eric Moncur, Miami

Doug Pilcher, Illinois

James Ruffin, Northern Iowa

George Selvie, South Florida

Will Tukuafu, Oregon

Lawrence Wilson, Ohio State

CJ Wilson, East Carolina

Lindsey Witten, Connecticut

Corey Wootton, Northwestern

Willie Young, N.C. State

Frank Zombo, Central Michigan

Source: LSUSports.Net

Alem heads into the 2009 season as one of the Tigers’ starters at defensive end. For his career, Alem has racked up 17 tackles for losses and 10 sacks in 31 games with one start.

Alem, a native of New Orleans, led LSU with eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for losses last season while recording 29 total tackles and seven quarterback hurries. He ranked third in the Southeastern Conference in sacks and eighth in the league in tackles for losses in 2008.

Alem is one of four SEC players on the watch list joining Florida’s Jermaine Cunningham, Auburn’s Antonio Coleman and Greg Hardy of Ole Miss.

Now in its eighth season, the Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football’s first three-time first-team All-American. As a defensive end at the University of Miami, Ted used his agility, height and reach to block passes and kicks, force interceptions and pressure quarterbacks and running backs.

His professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. It included four Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowl selections and inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

It is in the spirit of Ted Hendricks’ aggressive style of play, winning attitude and determination that the Defensive End of the Year Award for college football’s premier defensive end is presented.

On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the award’s winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the Award’s voting committee.

Candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end. Players may be added or deleted, depending on performance, injury or other circumstances.  The 2009 winner will be announced on December 9.

Source: LSUSports.Net