University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Davis Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
10/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Davis Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
The Butkus Award is presented annually to the best linebacker in the nation. The list was determined by confidential balloting of the 29-member Butkus Award Selection Committee, comprised of the nation's foremost media members. The selection committee made its selections from the initial Butkus Award watch list announced on Aug. 22, 2002.
On Thurs., Nov. 14, The Downtown Touchdown Club will announce the three finalists for this year's Butkus Award. Those finalists and their coaches will participate in the announcement. The 2002 Butkus Award winner will be announced at the Butkus Award Presentation Ceremony on Fri., Dec. 13 by the award's namesake Dick Butkus.
Davis leads Southern Miss in tackles (78), sacks (6) and tackles for loss (12.5) and is ranked among the nation's best in all three categories, No. 3 in tackles for loss, No. 10 in sacks, tying for No. 11 in solo tackles and tying for No. 21 in total tackles. He is averaging 12 tackles a game, one sack a game and two tackles for loss per game. He also has registered two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
He currently is tied for the conference lead in tackles and holds the top spot in solo tackles (55). He is tied with Louisville's Dewayne White for the sack lead and is tied with TCU's LaMarcus McDonald and UAB's Zac Woodfin for the lead in tackles for loss.
Davis has registered double-figure tackles in every game this year with a season-high 19 tackles against South Florida. He also has registered at least one sack in four of the six games and at least one tackle for loss in every game. He has finished with double-figure tackles in 17 of the 28 games in which he has played during his career.
The 11 semifinalists named were Boss Bailey, Georgia; Michael Boulware, Florida State; Rod Davis, Southern Miss; E.J. Henderson, Maryland; Bradie James, LSU; Derrick Johnson, Texas; Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma; Jonathan Vilma, Miami, Fla.; Courtney Watson, Notre Dame; Matt Wilhelm, Ohio State and D.J. Williams, Miami, Fla.
