Aug. 28, 2007

Rice linebacker Brian Raines, who ranked among the nation's leaders in tackles in his first season as a starter in 2006, is one of 66 candidates who have been placed on the watch list for the Butkus Award, which each year honors the top linebacker in college football.

Raines, who is also on the watch list for the Nagurksi Award, finished second in C-USA with 118 tackles, the ninth highest total in Rice history and the most since Larry Izzo recorded 121 in 1995. The junior from Missouri City led the conference and was tied for fourth nationally by forcing five fumbles, and his average of 6.54 unassisted tackles per game ranked seventh in the country.

The Butkus Award ® Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 18. That semi-finalist list will be cut down to three finalists and will be announced on Thursday, November 9. The winner will be announced in December in Orlando, Fla.

The independent Butkus Award® Selection Committee for the 2007 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.

The Butkus Award ® is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football. Past recipients include such outstanding linebackers as: Patrick Willis (2006-Mississippi), Paul Posluszny (2005-Penn State); 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.