July 30, 2012

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU senior defensive end Margus Hunt has been named to the Watch List for the 2012 Ted Hendricks Award, award organizers announced today. Hunt, who was recently tabbed DFW's Top Athlete in a DallasNews.com poll, is now on the Watch List for both the Hendricks and Lombardi Awards.

Hunt was named the No. 1 athletic "freak" in college football by CBSSports.com and has been named preseason All-Conference USA by several outlets. He is a three-time All-C-USA honorable mention selection and notched 28 stops and four blocked kicks in 2011. He wrapped up the season with a dominant performance in the BBVA Compass Bowl win, racking up three sacks and five total tackles.

Now in its eleventh season, the Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football's first three-time first-team All-American. 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 and any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate's primary position must be defensive end.

For more information on the award and a complete Watch List, click here.

Preseason accolades continue to roll in for the Mustangs. In addition to Hunt's honors, Zach Line is on the Watch Lists for the Walter Camp, Maxwell & Doak Walker Awards; Darius Johnson is on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List and Taylor Reed joins Hunt on the Lombardi list. Additionally, Ja'Gared Davis is on the Butkus Award list and Blake McJunkin the Rimington.

On the heels of their third straight bowl appearance, Hunt and SMU will host Texas A&M, TCU, Memphis, C-USA West rivals Houston and Tulsa and 2011 C-USA Champion Southern Miss at Ford Stadium in 2012. Ticket sales have been brisk, as SMU has already surpassed its season ticket sales totals for the rest of the June Jones era.

To see Hunt and his Mustang teammates this season, call the SMU Ticket Office at (214) SMU-GAME (768-4263).