FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas junior outside linebacker Tony Bua is one of 67 collegiate players on the preseason watch list for the 2002 Butkus Award, it was announced by the The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO) on Thursday.
"It is a great honor for Tony to be named as a candidate for such a prestigious award," Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said. "After meeting Dick Butkus recently, having a player on that list is even more special. Tony is a fierce competitor that plays every snap like it is his last. His dedication and the hard work and support of his teammates have allowed him to be recognized."
Bua earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors last season at outside linebacker for the Razorbacks. He ranked seventh in the SEC with 109 tackles including nine tackles for loss (-21). He turned in a league-best 20 tackles against Georgia and 16 stops in the Hogs' seven-overtime victory over Ole Miss.
Bua is the fifth Razorback to be selected to a watch list for a national award this preseason. Tailback Fred Talley, offensive tackle Shawn Andrews, free safety Ken Hamlin and cornerback\kick returner Lawrence Richardson were named to the Football Writers Association of America preseason All-America watch list. Andrews is on the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy watch lists, Talley is on the Doak Walker Award watch list and Hamlin is on the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Year award watch list.
The Butkus Award watch list will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, Oct. 17. That list will be cut down to three finalists, who will be announced via a national teleconference with players, coaches, media members and Butkus Award officials on Thursday, Nov. 14. The winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 13, 2002.
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 presentation.
This year's watch list includes 67 noteworthy candidates who represent schools and conferences from across the nation. The independent selection committee for the 2002 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 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 Rocky Calmus (2001-Oklahoma); Dan Morgan (2000-U. of Miami); 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.
