MWC Places Six on 2007 Butkus Watch List

Prestigious award honors nation's top collegiate linebacker

Air Force's Drew Fowler
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Aug. 28, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Six Mountain West Conference football student-athletes have been named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker. Air Force senior Drew Fowler, San Diego State junior Russell Allen, TCU junior Jason Phillips, UNLV senior Beau Bell, Utah senior Joe Jiannoni and Wyoming junior Ward Dobbs are among the initial 66 candidates for the 2007 award.

Fowler was a first-team All-MWC selection last season after leading the league and ranking 10th nationally with a 10.2 tackle average. He recorded 123 total tackles, including 47 solo stops, in 2006.

Allen is the Aztecs' top returning tackler from a year ago, ranking ninth in the conference with a 7.3 tackle average while recording 6.0 tackles for loss among 88 stops in 2006.

Phillips, a two-time All-MWC performer, is the Horned Frogs' top returning stopper from last season, tallying 6.0 tackles for loss among 73 total stops.

Bell, a 2005 second-team All-MWC honoree, is the Rebels' top returning tackler from the 2006 campaign, compiling 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks among 76 stops in just seven games.

Jiannoni and Dobbs were second-team All-MWC picks last season. Jiannoni ranked fifth in the league with an 8.4 tackle average, counting 8.0 tackles for loss and four sacks among 92 total stops. Dobbs collected 5.0 tackles for loss and three sacks among 69 total stops in 2006.

The Butkus Award watch list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on Thursday, October 18. Three finalists will be named on Thursday, November 9, and the winner will be announced in December in Orlando, Fla.

The selection committee for the Butkus Award is comprised of some of the nation's foremost journalists who are solely and exclusively responsible for all voting in the 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.

Named in honor of the Chicago Bears' Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, the Butkus Award is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in collegiate football. Mississippi's Patrick Willis was the 2006 recipient of the Butkus Award.