KU's Laptad Added To Hendricks Award Watch List

Sept. 23, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Based on his play during the first three weeks of the 2009 football season, Kansas defensive end Jake Laptad was added to the watch list for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award it was announced on Wednesday.

Laptad, a 6-5, 258-pound junior from Tulsa, Okla. is one of 10 players added to the list, which includes 40 names early in the season. Previous winners of the award include Terrell Suggs of Arizona State, David Pollack of Georgia, Elvis Dumervil of Louisville, LaMarr Woodley of Michigan, Chris Long of Virginia and Brian Orakpo of Texas.

Through three games Laptad has recorded a team-best 3.5 sacks among his 4.5 tackles for loss. He has registered 11 tackles on the year, while being credited with three quarterback hurries and forcing one fumble.

Among Big 12 players Laptad ranks second in sacks and tied for seventh in tackles for loss. Nationally, Laptad is tied for 13th in sacks, tied for 40th in tackles for loss and tied for 67th in forced fumbles.

Laptad opened the season with a career-high tying six tackles, including two sacks against Northern Colorado. He has been in on a sack in all three games this year and boasts 13.5 career sacks.

Last year Laptad earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.

Kansas hosts Southern Mississippi on Saturday at 11 a.m. The game will be televised nationally on FSN.