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Purdue Defensive End George Karlaftis Named Ted Hendricks Award Finalist

Purdue junior defensive end George Karlaftis recorded 39 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks this season for the Boilermakers. He was a first team All-Big Ten selection for the first time in his career.
D.J. Fezler|
Purdue Defensive End George Karlaftis Named Ted Hendricks Award Finalist
Purdue Defensive End George Karlaftis Named Ted Hendricks Award Finalist

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue star George Karlaftis was recognized as one of five finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given annually to the best defensive end in college football. 

Karlaftis joins Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, Florida State's Jermaine Johnson II, Texas A&M's DeMarvin Leal and Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux as finalists for the award named in honor of University of Miami three-time All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks. 

Karlaftis, a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award that is given to the college football defensive player of the year, recorded 39 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks this season for the Boilermakers. 

The Purdue defensive end was a consensus first team All-Big Ten honoree, earning all-conference honors for the second time in his career. Karlaftis became the first defensive player for Purdue to be named first team All-Big Ten since defensive tackle Kawann Short in 2012. 

Stories Related to Purdue Football

  • GEORGE KARLAFTIS DECLARES FOR NFL DRAFT: In three years with the Purdue football program, star defensive end George Karlaftis tallied 97 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. Karlaftis is one of the top defensive end prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. CLICK HERE 
  • PURDUE TO PLAY IN MUSIC CITY BOWL: After finishing the regular season with an 8-4 record, Purdue is headed to the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. The team will face off against Tennessee on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium. CLICK HERE
  • KARLAFTIS NAMED LOTT IMPACT TROPHY SEMIFINALIST: George Karlaftis was one of eight semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded to a student-athlete for their on and off the field contributions. Karlaftis has recorded 36 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles this season. CLICK HERE
  • 14 PURDUE PLAYERS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS: David Bell and George Karlaftis represent Purdue football as members of the All-Big Ten first team. In total, 14 players were recognized ahead of the postseason, and Bell was named the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year. CLICK HERE 

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D.J. Fezler
D.J. FEZLER

D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball. 

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