Lehman Takes Home OU's Fourth Butkus Award

The second time was a charm for Oklahoma senior linebacker Teddy Lehman who was named the winner of the 2003 Butkus Award Friday night at a special ceremony in Orlando after being chosen as a finalist for two straight years. The honor signified the Fort Gibson, Okla., native as the top linebacker in the country and the fourth winner of the distinguished award in school history, which is the most by any program in college football.

Lehman was chosen over Texas' Derrick Johnson and Jonathan Vilma of Miami by a committe of media, coaches and former winners of the award assembled by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando which sponsors the event.

Lehman expressed his pleasure in receiving the prestigious award following the presentation.

Lehman & Butkus Award | OU Award Winners

"It's always been a goal of mine to win this award and I'm just really excited right now that its finally become a reality," said Lehman. "I knew at the beginning of the season if I did the things I needed to do, I'd have a good chance of winning it."

The honor came on the heels of several other national honors for the Sooner defensive standout. Thursday night, Lehman won the Chuck Bednarik Trophy as the nation's top defensive player and he was also recently named to the FWAA, AFCA and Walter Camp All-America teams for the second-straight year. He additionally was picked as the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and chosen to several other All-Big 12 teams by the Kansas City Star and Associated Press.

During the 2003 season, Lehman continued his success from his breakout 2002 campaign by leading the team in tackles for the second-consecutive year with 109. Lehman also added one forced fumble, six pass breakups and 12 tackles for loss. He received the SBC Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honor after registering a career high 17 tackles and intercepting a pass against UCLA.

Lehman helped lead a Sooner defensive unit that ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense, second in passing efficiency defense and third in scoring defense. Oklahoma recently recorded an undefeated regular season and advanced to their second-consecutive Big 12 Conference championship game last Saturday. The third-ranked Sooners are headed to New Orleans to play in the Nokia Sugar Bowl against second-ranked LSU on January 4 for the national championship.

Oklahoma's other winners of the award were Brian Bosworth in 1985 and 1986, the award's only two-time winner, and Rocky Calmus in 2001.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Lehman Takes Home OU's Fourth Butkus Award

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