From our friends at IU Media Relations:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana sophomore defensive end Greg Middleton has been named a finalist for the 2007 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award, the Ted Hendricks Foundation announced Tuesday. The final vote for the award will conclude on December 3 and the winner will be announced on December 5.
The first team All-Big Ten selection is joined by Eric Bakhtiari (San Diego), Maurice Evans (Penn State), Vernon Gholston (Ohio State), Chris Long (Virginia), Nick Reed (Oregon), Jonal Saint-Dic (Michigan State) and George Selvie (South Florida).
Middleton became the first IU defensive lineman since Adewale Ogunleye in 1997 to earn first team All-Big Ten honors. With his 2.5 sacks against Purdue on November 17, Middleton set a new single-season school record with 16 and currently leads the nation. He eclipsed the previous mark of 14 set by Van Waiters back in 1987. The total also tied for fourth place in a Big Ten single season.
Additionally, Middleton finished the regular season with 17 tackles for loss (tied for sixth in an IU single season), which is the most since Ogunleye collected the same total in 1997. He anchored a defense that set a new school record with 42 sacks this season and ranked in the top five nationally all year.
Care to sound off on Middleton? Is he the best defensive lineman to come through IU in the history of its program? Should he win the award? We appreciate your comments guys.
