Sabb named to Butkus Award Watch List

ORLANDO- 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 65 candidates for this year's award. Middle Tennessee's J.K. Sabb is one of just three players on the list from the Sun Belt Conference.

Sabb, a senior from Augusta, Ga., led the Blue Raiders in tackles a year ago with 71 stops and a team-best 13 tackles for loss. A first team Preseason All-Sun Belt pick, Sabb set a school record in 2005 with five tackles for loss against North Texas.

Florida International's Keyonvis Bouie and North Texas' Phillip Graves are the other two SBC players on the list. Bouie and the Golden Panthers will open the 2006 season next Thursday at Middle Tennessee in a televised opener from Floyd Stadium.

The Butkus Award® Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 19. 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 9. The winner will be announced Saturday, December 9, 2006 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.

The independent Butkus Award® Selection Committee for the 2006 Butkus Award®, comprised of some of the nation's foremost journalists, is solely and exclusively responsible for all voting in the Butkus Award® selection process. Additional Watch List candidates may be added in the coming weeks due to outstanding in-season play. Voting for the three finalists and the Butkus Award® winner will be conducted by exclusive confidential ballots of the selection committee.

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