Branch, Thompson on Pony Express Award Watch List

Wednesday, 08 June 2011 20:52

Senior defensive linemen Andre Branch and Brandon Thompson were named one of 48 tandems on the 2011 Pony Express Award Watch List, announced Tuesday. The award, the brainchild of SMU’s legendary Pony Express backfield of Craig James and Eric Dickerson, will look at two and three-player tandems from across the nation, ultimately honoring the combination whose work ethic, desire , on and off-field leadership, and playmaking ability best fuels its team.
Branch, a defensive end from Richmond, VA, has 112 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in 34 career games (13 starts). He has made at least one tackle in 27 straight games. In 2010, he totaled 55 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 16 quarterback pressures, and seven pass breakups in starting all 13 games.

Thompson, a defensive tackle from Thomasville, GA, has 131 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 39 career games (25 starts). In 2010, he registered 56 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and 15 quarterback pressures.

Both Tigers were big reasons Clemson was 13th in the nation in scoring defense (18.8) and 19th in the country in total defense (320.3) in 2010.

2011 PRESEASON WATCH LIST - PONY EXPRESS AWARD	SCHOOL	#
QB Andrew Luck, WR Chris Owusu, TE Coby Fleener	Stanford	3
QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner	Arizona	2
QB Landry Jones, WR Ryan Broyles, WR Kenny Stills	Oklahoma	3
QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon	Oklahoma State	2
QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller	Texas A&M	3
QB Darron Thomas, RB LaMichael James, RB Kenjon Barner	Oregon	3
QB Kellen Moore, RB Doug Martin	Boise State	2
QB Matt Barkley, WR Robert Woods	USC	2
QB Stephen Garcia, RB Marcus Lattimore, WR Alshon Jeffrey	South Carolina	3
RB Michael Dyer, RB Ontario McCalebb	Auburn	2
RB Trent Richardson, WR Marquise Maze	Alabama	2
QB GJ Kinne, WR Damaris Johnson	Tulsa	2
OT Mike Adams, OT JB Shugarts, C Mike Brewster	Ohio State	3
DE Broderick Binns, DT Mike Daniels	Iowa	2
DE Donte Paige-Moss, DE Quinton Coples, DT Tydreke Powell	North Carolina	2
LB Keenan Robinson, LB Emmanuel Acho, DL Kheeston Randall	Texas	2
DE Max Holloway, LB Luke Kuechly	Boston College	2
LB Courtney Upshaw, LB Dont'a Hightower, LB Nico Johnson	Alabama	3
LB Tanner Brock, LB Tank Carder	TCU	2
LB Lavonte David, CB Alfonzo Dennard	Nebraska	2
K Blair Walsh, P Drew Butler	Georgia	2
QB Kirk Cousins, RB Edwin Baker, WR Keshawn Martin	Michigan State	3
LB Travis Lewis, LB Tom Wort, DB Tony Jefferson	Oklahoma	3
DE Andre Branch, DT Brandon Thompson	Clemson	2
LB Zach Brown, LB Kevin Reddick	North Carolina	2
LB Ronnie Sneed, LB Danny Trevathan	Kentucky	2
LB Sean Spence, S Ray Ray Armstrong	Miami	2
S Christian Scott, S Blake Gideon	Texas	2
RB Jeff Demps, RB/WR Chris Rainey	Florida	2
WR Dwight Jones, WR Erik Highsmith	North Carolina	2
QB Terrelle Pryor, RB Dan Herron, WR DeVier Posey	Ohio State	3
WR Greg Childs, WR Joe Adams, WR Jarius Wright	Arkansas	3
QB Robert Griffin, WR Kendall Wright, WR Josh Gordon	Baylor	3
DT Alameda Ta'amu, LB Cort Dennison	Washington	2
QB Geno Smith, WR Tavon Austin	West Virginia	2
RB Montee Ball, RB James White	Wisconsin	2
DE Devin Taylor, DT Melving Ingram	South Carolina	2
RB Chris Polk, WR Jermaine Kearse	Washington	2
DE Jonathan Massaquoi, LB Kanorris Davis	Troy	2
LB Manti Te'o, LB Darius Flemming	Notre Dame	2
G Cordy Glenn, C Ben Jones	Georgia	3
QB Jordan Jefferson, WR Russell Sheppard	LSU	2
QB EJ Manuel, RB Jermaine Thomas, RB Lonnie Pryor	Florida State	3
QB Logan Thomas, WR Jarett Boykin, WR Dyrell Roberts	Virginia Tech	3
DE Taylor Thompson, DE Margus Hunt	SMU	2