WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Adding to his list of postseason honors, Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis has been selected as one of five finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award. The annual honor recognizes the top defensive end in college football.
Karlaftis joins Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan), Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State), DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) as finalists for the award named in honor of University of Miami three-time All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks.
Karlaftis was one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten all season long, exemplified as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award that is given to the college football defensive player of the year. He led the Boilermakers in tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (5.0), forced fumbles (3), fumble recoveries (2) and quarterback hurries (8).
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 Boilermaker on the defensive side of the ball to be tabbed First Team All-Big Ten since defensive tackle Kawann Short in 2012. His 11.5 tackles for loss ranked seventh in the Big Ten, as Karlaftis recorded at least 1.0 TFL in eight of nine conference games. The junior was one of only four Big Ten defenders to force at least three fumbles throughout the 2021 campaign.
Perhaps his most memorable play of the season was a 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Wisconsin (Oct. 23). Karlaftis was a force in some of Purdue's biggest wins. In a road victory at No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16), the edge rusher produced 12 pressures to help the Boilermakers hand the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season. Facing another unbeaten team at the time, Karlaftis forced a fumble and recovered one as well as Purdue knocked off No. 3 Michigan State at home (Nov. 6).
Making an impact on special teams as well, Karlaftis blocked the first field goal of his career in a win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field (Nov. 20); it was the first field goal blocked by a Boilermaker since 2018.
Projected as a consensus first round pick, Karlaftis announced earlier this week that he will forego his senior season at Purdue and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Karlaftis' Honors (As of Dec. 8, 2021)
- First Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, Media, AP, PFF)
- Second Team All-America (The Athletic)
- Ted Hendricks Award Finalist
- Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
- Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist
Karlaftis joins Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan), Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State), DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) as finalists for the award named in honor of University of Miami three-time All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks.
Karlaftis was one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten all season long, exemplified as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award that is given to the college football defensive player of the year. He led the Boilermakers in tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (5.0), forced fumbles (3), fumble recoveries (2) and quarterback hurries (8).
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 Boilermaker on the defensive side of the ball to be tabbed First Team All-Big Ten since defensive tackle Kawann Short in 2012. His 11.5 tackles for loss ranked seventh in the Big Ten, as Karlaftis recorded at least 1.0 TFL in eight of nine conference games. The junior was one of only four Big Ten defenders to force at least three fumbles throughout the 2021 campaign.
Perhaps his most memorable play of the season was a 56-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Wisconsin (Oct. 23). Karlaftis was a force in some of Purdue's biggest wins. In a road victory at No. 2 Iowa (Oct. 16), the edge rusher produced 12 pressures to help the Boilermakers hand the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season. Facing another unbeaten team at the time, Karlaftis forced a fumble and recovered one as well as Purdue knocked off No. 3 Michigan State at home (Nov. 6).
Making an impact on special teams as well, Karlaftis blocked the first field goal of his career in a win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field (Nov. 20); it was the first field goal blocked by a Boilermaker since 2018.
Projected as a consensus first round pick, Karlaftis announced earlier this week that he will forego his senior season at Purdue and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Karlaftis' Honors (As of Dec. 8, 2021)
- First Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, Media, AP, PFF)
- Second Team All-America (The Athletic)
- Ted Hendricks Award Finalist
- Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
- Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist