DEKALB, Ill. – For the second consecutive season, Northern Illinois University defensive end Sutton Smith was named a finalist for the 2018 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year the Ted Hendricks Foundation announced Monday.
 
Smith, who leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in sacks with 15 and is second in tackles for loss with 24.5, is one of four finalists for the award, named in honor of the NFL Hall of Famer and three-time All-American at the University of Miami.
 
The 2018 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Smith broke the school record for sacks in a season, which he set last year, and led an NIU defense that set the school record for team sacks in a season with 50. In addition to his ability to stop opposing offenses, Smith also scored a pair of touchdowns in 2018. His first came after he blocked his second punt of the year in NIU's win over Toledo, while his second, an 85-yard fumble return for a TD, came at Western Michigan.
 
Joining Smith on the list of finalists are Josh Allen of Kentucky, Jaylon Ferguson of Louisiana Tech and Clemson's Clelin Ferrell. Final voting for the 2018 Hendricks Award concludes on December 4 and the recipient announced December 5.
 
Smith and the Huskies will be facing UAB in the 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl. The game will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 18 and will be televised by ESPN at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets are available on NIUHuskies.com.
 
-NIU-