Jonah Elliss Named Finalist For Ted Hendricks Award
12/1/2023 1:32 PM | Football
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BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – Utah Football defensive standout Jonah Elliss has been named a finalist for the 2023 Ted Hendricks Award, presented annually to college football's top defensive end.
The award is named in honor of three-time All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks with the award representing leadership on and off the field. Elliss is one of three finalists, also earning finalist recognition for the Lombardi Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
This season, Elliss was also a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award in addition to be named to the midseason All-America teams by Sporting News, Associated Press, ESPN and The Athletic. He earned two Pac-12 Defensive Line of the Week awards this season, also garnering national praise by being named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week against UCLA.
The Moscow, Idaho, native caused chaos for opposing offenses this season, ranking first in the FBS in sacks per game (1.20) with 12.0 total sacks through 10 games played. He also ranks fourth in the FBS in tackles for loss per game (1.6) with 16.0 total.
His 12.0 sacks is the most by a Ute since 2019 (Bradlee Anae, 13.0), tying him for seventh all-time in single-season sacks. Overall in 2023, he has produced 37 total tackles with three pass breakups and a forced fumble, recording a sack in four straight games with multiple tackles for loss in five games this season.
Elliss had a breakout game this season against UCLA, earning Pac-12 Defensive Line Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Player of the Week for his performance against the Bruins. He finished with 10 tackles that included 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks with the latter being the most by a Pac-12 player since 2017.
The junior has played in 35 career games at Utah with 18 starts, including in 10 games this year. He started his career with the Utes as a linebacker, switching to defensive end before the 2022 season.
Off the field, Elliss works hand-in-hand with an organization called "Sammy's Buddy Program", which pairs able-bodied students with differently able-bodies students as mentors. He also volunteers with his teammates at Children's Primary.
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