University of Oklahoma Athletics

Calmus and Marshall Named To Butkus Award Watch List

August 24, 2000 | Football

By: Athletics Communications

Aug. 24, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO), the organization which annually presents the prestigious Butkus Award to the nation's best collegiate linebacker has announced the preliminary list of 70 candidates for this year's award. University of Oklahoma linebackers Rocky Calmus and Torrance Marshall were both named to the preseason list.

The Butkus Award Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on October 19. The three finalists will be announced on a national teleconference Nov. 9 at Spectator's Sports Bar at the Downtown Marriott Orlando. The winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 8 during the Butkus Award Gala at Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios CityWalk.

This year's preliminary list includes 70 noteworthy candidates that represent schools and conferences from across the nation. The independent selection committee for the 2000 Butkus Award is comprised of 28 of the nation's foremost media members. The Butkus Award Selection Committee members are beginning the process of reviewing the candidates this week. Additional candidates may be added in the coming weeks. The voting for the three finalists and Butkus Award winner will be conducted by confidential balloting of the Selection Committee.

Eleven candidates are making their second appearance on the Butkus Award Watch List: Rick Crowell (Colorado State), Ryan Nece (UCLA), Kautai Oleavo (Utah), Jerry Phillips (Tulane), Tommy Polley (Florida State), Kamal Shakir (Memphis), Tim Skipper (Fresno State), Taylor Suman (Temple), Jashon Sykes (Colorado), Clayton White (NC State) and Jamie Winborn (Vanderbilt). Dan Morgan of Miami and Byron Thweatt of Virginia are both on the watch list for the third time in their careers and North Carolina's Brandon Spoon is on his fourth consecutive Butkus Award Watch List. This is the first time that a linebacker has made the Butkus Award Watch List four years in a row in the award's 16-year history.

The Butkus Award is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football. Past recipients include outstanding linebackers such as 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 of Illinois.

The list includes: 

Keith AdamsClemson

Brian AllenFlorida State

Adam Archulta        Arizona State

Akin AyodelePurdue

Boss BaileyGeorgia

Kendrell BellGeorgia

Kevin Bentley        Northwestern

Eric BrackinsMichigan

Shannon Brazell        TCU

Rocky Calmus        Oklahoma

Quenton Carver        Arkansas

Patrick ChukwurahWyoming

Rick CrowellColorado State

Derrell Daniels        Washington

Andra DavisFlorida

Anthony Denman        Notre Dame

Justin EnaBYU

Treverance FaulkLSU

Larry FooteMichigan

Jason GlennTexas A&M

Ryan Gonsales         Pittsburgh

Morlon GreenwoodSyracuse

Pernell Griffin        East Carolina

Sean Hoffman        Minnesota

Orlando HuffFresno State

Bradie JamesLSU

Riall JohnsonStanford

Ben LeberKansas State

De'Andre Lewis         Texas

Jason LoezelPurdue

Vassay MarcSouth Florida

Torrance MarshallOklahoma

Ben MezeraMinnesota

Marion Moore         Maryland

Zeke MorenoUSC

Dan MorganMiami

Ryan NeceUCLA

Kautai Oleavo        Utah

Brent PassayUtah State

Jeremiah Pharms        Washington

Jerry PhillipsTulane

Kenny Philpott        Eastern Michigan

Carlos PolkNebraska

Tommy Polley        Florida State

Saleem Rasheed        Alabama

Darnell RobinsonOregon State

Jamonte RobinsonMissouri

Wayne Rogers        Houston

Kevin Rollins         Toledo

Cameron Saulsby Northern Illinois

Kamal Shakir        Memphis

Tim SkipperFresno State

Justin SmithIndiana

Matt SmithOregon

Brandon Spoon        North Carolina

Markus Steele        USC

Eddie StrongMississippi

Taylor Suman        Temple

Jashon Sykes Colorado

LeVar TalleyTemple

Ben TaylorVirginia Tech

Robert Thomas        UCLA

Byron Thweatt        Virginia

TJ TurnerMichigan State

Lyle WeaverArmy

Eric WestmorelandTennessee

Clayton White        NC State

Jamie Winborn        Vanderbilt

Max YatesMarshall

Michael Young        Illinois

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