Kansas State senior defensive end Ryan Mueller is one of 31 players nationally – including five from the Big 12 – to be named to the Ted Hendricks Award watch list, the award’s foundation announced Tuesday.

Mueller’s inclusion on the watch list is his fifth of the preseason as he was also named to the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award watch lists. It also gave K-State its 18th watch list designation of the preseason.

A product of Leawood, Kansas, Mueller is up for the Ted Hendricks Award for a second time as he was on the midseason watch list a year ago. Meshak Williams was a candidate in 2012, while Ian Campbell was a semifinalist for the award in 2006 followed by a pair of watch list designations in 2007 and 2008.

Mueller, a captain for the 2014 season, tied the school record for sacks with 11.5 in 2013 to go along with 18.5 tackles for loss and 62 total tackles. The former walk-on earned Second Team All-America honors a year ago while he was also named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.

The Ted Hendricks Award watch list will be adjusted as the 2014 season progresses and the foundation will announce a midseason watch list in late November. The winner of the 2014 Ted Hendricks Award will be announced on December 10.

Kansas State opens the 2014 season against Stephen F. Austin on August 30, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 6:10 p.m.

— KSU Sports Information —