Middleton, Kirlew on Hendricks Watch List

Bloomington – Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton are two of 30 players tabbed to Ted Hendricks’ Award Preseason watch list as the nation’s top defensive end.

The list of watch candidates was released Thursday, and is named after the former University of Miami and Oakland Raider great. Indiana is one of only two schools with two players on the watch list, joining Oklahoma which was represented by both Jeremy Beal and Auston English.

Kirlew is coming off a first-team All-Big Ten season a year ago, totaling 10 ½ sacks and 19 ½ tackles for loss for the Hoosiers. He was named the team’s MVP for his performance as well as its defensive player of the year.

Middleton, meanwhile, led the nation in sacks two years ago with 16, a total that also established a new school record.

The Kirlew-Middleton tandem, meanwhile, has registered 36 ½ career sacks between them, a total that exceeds any other defensive end duo in the nation.

Kirlew and Middleton are two of seven Big Ten defensive ends on the watch list. They are joined by Northwestern’s Corey Wootten; Illinois’ Doug Pilcher; Michigan’s Brandon Graham; Michigan State’s Trevor Anderson; and Ohio State’s Lawrence Wilson.