Hendrickson named C-USA’s top defender
Florida Atlantic senior defensive end Trey Hendrickson was named Conference USA’s 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced.
He n d r i c k s o n’s s t e l l a r c areer, which i s likely to continue in the NFL next year, more than lived up the expectations after he was named C-USA’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year coming off his stellar junior season.
Hendrickson, a native of Apopka, is the second player in FAU’s 16-year history to earn individual player of the year honors and the first since joining C-USA. Quarterback Rusty Smith, the first player in FAU history chosen in the NFL draft, was the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. Hendrickson also is the first defensive lineman to garner the C-USA honor since 2011.
Hendrickson, who was voted FAU’s MVP by teammates, was second in the country with 9.5 sacks to go along with 50 tackles (15 for loss). He finished as FAU’s c areer leader in multiple categories, including sacks (29.5) and tackles for loss (42.5).
The website ProFootballFocus.com ranks Hendrickson as one of the top defensive linemen prospects. In a report on players whose stock is rising with scouts said: “While he may not have the same pure athleticism of some of the nation’s top pass-rushers, Hendrickson uses good pad level to overpower offensive tackles while using his hands well to make plays both in the passing game and against the run.”