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After leading the nation in sacks per game and asserting himself as the face of Utah's defense, Nate Orchard has been honored as the best defensive end in college football this season.

The Utes senior captain is this year's recipient of the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to the top end in college football. The award's criteria include on-field performance, leadership and contributions to school and community.

In terms of production, Orchard was in the top tier in 2014. He had 17.5 total sacks, second nationally, and opposing quarterbacks lost 113 yards when he wrapped them up. A first-team all Pac-12 defensive lineman as well as an All-American candidate, he also had 20.0 total tackles for a loss, was second on the team with 81 tackles, and forced two fumbles during the year.

Orchard has been repeatedly cited by Kyle Whittingham and his teammates as the leadership figurehead of the team. He often made an impact in big games: He had 4 sacks in Utah's 30-28 win over UCLA.

A Highland High grad, Orchard has already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl and is widely expected to be picked in next year's NFL Draft. He beat out fellow Pac-12 honorees USC's Leonard Williams and Washington's Hau'oli Kikaha for the award.

The namesake of the award is three-time All-American Ted Hendricks, who starred at Miami and played on the Super Bowl V team for the Baltimore Colts.

"Nate certainly illustrates all that is right about collegiate academics and athletics," Hendricks said in a release. "He is an exceptionally well-rounded young man and there is no mistaking his contributions both on and off the field."

Orchard gets one more game in a Utah uniform when the Utes play Colorado State on Dec. 20 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

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