June 4, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State senior Clifford Dukes is listed among 37 preseason candidates for the 2004 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Dukes started all 13 games at defensive end in 2003, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches. The Lexington Park, Md., native finished second among Spartan defensive linemen in tackles with 57 (36 solos, 21 assists). His seven sacks (32 yards) ranked second on the team. Dukes posted five tackles vs. Michigan and returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown. He registered a season-high eight stops vs. Illinois, including a 6-yard sack. Dukes made seven tackles vs. Indiana and recovered a fumble. He recorded a career-best two sacks (8 yards) vs. Iowa.

"What I like best about Clifford Dukes is his motor," Michigan State head football coach John L. Smith said. "Cliff plays as hard and as fast as he can every snap. He has an infectious attitude that the other players really respond to.

"Cliff isn't the biggest, fastest or strongest guy on the field, but he's a relentless competitor. It's amazing how many plays he runs down 10, 20, 30 yards down field. He flies around the football and that's why he comes up with so many big plays at crunch time."

A three-year letterman, Dukes enters his senior year with 27 career starts under his belt. He has produced 137 career tackles, including 13 sacks (64 yards).

Dukes is one of four Big Ten defensive ends being considered for the Ted Hendricks Award, joining Ohio State's Simon Fraser, Northwestern's Loren Howard and Iowa's Matt Roth.

The award is named in honor of former college and pro football great Ted Hendricks. The only three time All-American in Miami (Fla.) football history, he went on to play 15 years in the National Football League, making eight Pro Bowl appearances. Hendricks has been inducted into both the College (1987) and Pro Football (1990) Halls of Fame.

The criteria to determine the Hendricks Award winner include on-field performance, leadership abilities and contributions to school and community. Past recipients of the Hendricks Award include: Georgia's David Pollack (2003) and Arizona State's Terrell Suggs (2002).