Aug. 25, 2005
IRVING, Texas - The strong linebacker tradition in Conference USA was once again recognized by The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO), as the organization named five league linebackers to its preseason watch list for the prestigious Butkus Award®, given annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker. Tulsa's Nick Bunting, Tulane's Anthony Cannon, UCF's James Cook, UTEP's Thomas Howard and East Carolina's Chris Moore were among 65 candidates named to the preliminary watch list.
The Butkus Award® Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 20. That semi-finalist list will be cut down to three finalists, which will be announced via a national teleconference with players, coaches, media members and Butkus Award® officials on Thursday, November 10. The winner will be announced Saturday, December 10, 2005 at the Butkus Award® Gala in Orlando, FL. The Butkus Award® will be presented to the winner by the award's namesake former University of Illinois and Chicago Bear NFL Hall of Fame member, Dick Butkus. The finalists, their coaches and families are invited to attend the Butkus Award® Gala festivities including a welcome reception, golf tournament and silent auction.
This year's Watch List includes 65 noteworthy candidates that represent schools and conferences from across the nation. The independent selection committee for the 2005 Butkus Award®, comprised of 29 of the nation's foremost national media members, is solely responsible for all voting in the selection process. Selection Committee members have already started evaluating the candidates and will continue their review throughout the entire football season. Additional Watch List candidates may be added in the coming weeks. Voting for the three Butkus Award® finalists and the Butkus Award® winner will be conducted by confidential ballots of the selection committee.
The Butkus Award ® is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football. Past recipients include such outstanding linebackers as: Derrick Johnson (2004-Texas); Teddy Lehman (2003-Oklahoma); E.J. Henderson (2002-Maryland); Rocky Calmus (2001-Oklahoma); Dan Morgan (2000-Miami (FL); LaVar Arrington (1999-Penn State); Chris Claiborne (1998-Southern California); Andy Katzenmoyer (1997-Ohio State); Matt Russell (1996 Colorado); Kevin Hardy (1995-Illinois); Dana Howard (1994-Illinois); Trev Alberts (1993-Nebraska); Marvin Jones (1992-Florida State); Erick Anderson (1991-Michigan); Alfred Williams (1990-Colorado); Percy Snow (1989-Michigan State); Derrick Thomas (1988-Alabama); Paul McGowan (1997-Florida State); and Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986-Oklahoma). Created in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando Inc., the Butkus Award® carries the name and support of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history, Dick Butkus.
2005 BUTKUS AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
Jon Alston, Stanford
Brandon Archer, Kansas State
H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
Trent Bray, Oregon State
Ahmad Brooks, Virginia
Abe Brown, Louisville
Nick Bunting, Tulsa
Anthony Cannon, Tulane
James Cook, UCF
Bernard Davis, Troy
Will Derting, Washington State
Tim Dobbins, Iowa State
Shomari Earls, Florida Atlantic
Lee Foliaki, Texas A&M
Omar Gaither, Tennessee
Chad Greenway, Iowa
George Hall, Purdue
Korey Hall, Boise State
James Hargrave, Connecticut
Aaron Harris, Texas
Spencer Havner, UCLA
A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
Ray Henderson, Boston College
Abdul Hodge, Iowa
Thomas Howard, UTEP
Brandon Hoyte, Notre Dame
Clint Ingram, Oklahoma
Brian Iwuh, Colorado
Cameron Jensen, BYU
Brandon Johnson, Louisville
Leverne Johnson, Troy
Anthony Jordan, Toledo
Javan Lee, Northern Illinois
Joe Lobendahn, Washington
Tim McGarigle, Northwestern
Kevin McLee, West Virginia
J.J. Milan, Nevada
Chris Moore, East Carolina
Mike Mohoric, New Mexico
Terna Nande, Miami (OH)
Stephen Nicholas, USF
A.J. Nicholson, Florida State
Moses Osemwegie, Vanderbilt
Justin Parrish, Kent State
Teddy Piepkow, Bowling Green
Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Nick Reid, Kansas
Dontez Sanders, Wisconsin
Byron Santiago, Louisiana Tech
Dallas Sartz, USC
Brandon Siler, Florida
Kevin Simon, Tennessee
Ernie Sims, Florida State
Kelvin Smith, Syracuse
Tony Taylor, Georgia
Brian Toal, Boston College
Spencer Toone, Utah
Cameron Vaughn, LSU
Justin Warren, Texas A&M
Thaddeus Washington, Colorado
Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
Travis Williams, Auburn
LaMarr Woodley, Michigan