-- Rolando McClain, Alabama
-- Sergia Kindle, Texas
-- Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
-- Brandon Spikes, Florida
-- Eric Norwood, South Carolina
McClain, Weatherspoon and Spikes were finalists in 2008.
The five Butkus Award high school finalists are as follows:
-- Khairi Fortt, Stamford - Stamford, Conn.
-- Jordan Hicks, Lakota West - West Chester, Ohio
-- Dakota Royer, Manheim Central - Lancaster, Pa.
-- Hayes Pullard, Crenshaw - Los Angeles, Calif.
-- Jeff Luc, Treasure Coast - Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Winners in both categories are expected to be announced on or before
December 8, 2009. Meanwhile, a professional Butkus Award winner will be
selected later in the season. More information is available at
www.thebutkusaward.com.
The Butkus Award is selected by a 51-person panel comprised mostly of
scouts, coaches and journalists, and coordinated by Hub Arkush of Pro
Football Weekly. Selectors follow all rules of their leagues. Individual
votes remain completely confidential.
The Butkus Award is named after Dick Butkus, who is considered one of the
greatest football players in history. Butkus was inducted into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame in 1979, following an illustrious career with the
Chicago Bears, University of Illinois and Chicago Vocational School.
Butkus and his son Matt want the Award to draw attention to the I Play
Clean™ campaign, which aims to end steroid use in organized sports.
More information is available at www.iplayclean.org.
The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards
Association, a coalition of the major collegiate awards. More information
is available at www.NCFAA.org.
Contact Information: Contact: Ron Arp Butkus Foundation 360.601.2991