Williamson Named to Butkus Watch List
August 23, 2002 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Senior outside linebacker John Williamson (Chadbourn, N.C.) has been named to the preliminary list of 67 candidates for the 2002 Butkus Award, as announced by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc., today. Williamson, 6-2, 230, ranked eighth in Conference USA in tackles for losses (14) last season and was sixth in sacks (6.5). He has already been tabbed to the league coaches' Preseason All C-USA team and has been listed as the No. 24 outside linebacker in the nation by The Sporting News.
The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando annually presents the prestigious Butkus Award to the nation's best collegiate linebacker. The watch list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on October 17. That list will be cut down to three finalists, who will be announced on November 14. The winner will be announced on Dec. 13 with the award being presented by its namesake, former University of Illinois and Chicago Bear NFL Hall of Fame member, Dick Butkus.
Last season, Williamson ranked third on the ECU team in tackles with 65, including a team-high 13 with four for losses against league champ Louisville. He was particularly strong down the stretch, averaging 11.5 tackles over the last four regular season games. He has started all but two games during his three-year ECU career.
Williamson is one of four Conference USA players on the watch list. Also named is Michael Brown of Louisville, Rod Davis of Southern Miss, and LeMarcus McDonald of TCU.
He is one of four ECU players named on official watch lists for national awards this season. Junior offensive lineman Brian Rimpf is on the lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award (presented to the nation's outstanding down lineman) and the Outland Trophy (outstanding interior lineman). Senior place-kicker Kevin Miller is again listed on the Lou Groza Award (outstanding kicker) list after being a two-time semifinalist for that honor. Senior punter Jarad Preston is on the Ray Guy Award watch list, with that honor going to the country's outstanding punter.
