How Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos stacks up with other finalists for the national Hendricks Award
A day after being selected first-team all-conference, Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos earned some recognition on a national level.
The junior was named one of five finalists Thursday for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually since 2002 to the nation’s top defensive end. The other finalists include Utah’s Bradley Anae, Baylor’s James Lynch, Boise State’s Curtis Weaver and Ohio State’s Chase Young.
The winner will be announced Dec. 12, but Gross-Matos — a projected first-round NFL draft pick — will be hard-pressed to come away with the hardware. Not only does he boast the fewest sacks (8.5) and second-fewest tackles for loss (14) among the five finalists, but it’d be a huge surprise for anyone not named Chase Young to collect the trophy.
Young was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, and he leads the nation in both sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (19.5) despite missing two games due to suspension.
All that being said, Gross-Matos has still earned his spot among the nation’s best.
Unlike some defensive ends, Gross-Matos is balanced against the run. And his speed — a 4.52-second 40 — allows him to make plays that a lot other defensive players can’t. (His powerful two-sack, 3.5-tackle for loss performance against Ohio State in a nationally televised game didn’t hurt either.)
Penn State alum Carl Nassib is the only Nittany Lion to win the award, back in 2015. And defensive line coach Sean Spencer remarked earlier this season just how similar the two are.
“He’s as close to Carl Nassib as I’ve had here, and Carl Nassib is doing it at the next level,” Spencer said, alluding the Nassib’s 55 career NFL games and counting. “He has a tremendous motor and unbelievable balance and speed and power.”
Gross-Matos announced earlier this week that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft. He’s projected as a first-round pick by most outlets, such as ESPN, CBS Sports and The Sporting News — who all predict him to go between No. 25 and No. 29 overall.
The junior still plans to play in the Nittany Lions’ bowl game, which will be announced Sunday afternoon.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 11:45 AM.
