Houston Duo Named to Butkus Award Watch List
7/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON - Houston linebackers Tyus Bowser and Steven Taylor have been named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's linebacker by the Butkus Foundation.
Houston was one of just six schools nationally to have multiple players named to the 44-person watch list, joining Alabama, Ohio State, Louisville, Penn State and Kansas State. The duo represents half of the four linebackers chosen from The American Athletic Conference for the watch list.
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Tuesday's announcement marks Taylor's third preseason watch list as the senior linebacker has also been named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the nation's top defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club and the FWAA, respectively.
Taylor led The American Athletic Conference in 2015 with 10 sacks and was second in the league behind teammate Elandon Roberts in tackles for loss with 18.5. He ranks fifth nationally among all returners in tackles for loss last season and seventh nationally among all returners in sacks.
Houston's leading returning tackler with 92 stops last season, ranking seventh among all returners in The American, Taylor is fourth among all returners in The American with 61 solo tackles last season. The Cedar Hill, Texas, native also had two forced fumbles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a team-best 12 quarterback hurries.
Bowser started 13 games last season at outside linebacker, totaling 50 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to go along with one interception, two fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. He ranks fourth among all returners in The American with 5.5 sacks last season and third among returning linebackers in the league.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus' I Play CleanTM initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs. More information is available at www.iplayclean.org.
The Butkus Award, www.thebutkusaward.com and on Facebook at 51.butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which includes the 22 most prestigious awards in college football with 722 years of selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.
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