The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Harris named Butkus Award semifinalist
10.20.2005 | Football
UT senior Aaron Harris has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, honoring the nation's top linebacker, the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO) has announced. Harris becomes the third Longhorn ever to be named a semifinalist for the award and is the fourth semifinalist overall in the last five years. Derrick Johnson won the honor in 2004 and was a finalist in 2003, while D.D. Lewis was the first semifinalist in 2001.
This season, Harris has 54 tackles, nine TFL, 3.5 sacks, three pressures, two forced fumbles and an INT. He earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors following the Missouri game in which he had 11 tackles, two TFL, one sack and a 30-yard INT return that set up Texas' first scoring drive. For his career, he has played in 44 games (24 starts) and posted 244 tackles, 25 TFL, 23 pressures, 11 PBU, seven forced fumbles and two INTs.
Harris is joined by Chad Greenway (Iowa), Spencer Havner (UCLA), A.J. Hawk (Ohio State), D'Qwell Jackson (Maryland), Tim McGarigle (Northwestern), A.J. Nicholson (Florida State), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), DeMeco Ryans (Alabama) and Ernie Sims (Florida State) as semifinalists.
The list will be cut down to three finalists which will be announced via a national teleconference with players, coaches, media members and Butkus Award officials on Thursday, November 10. The winner will be announced Saturday, December 10, 2005 at the Butkus Award Gala in Orlando, FL. The Butkus Award® will be presented to the winner by the award's namesake former University of Illinois and Chicago Bear NFL Hall of Fame member, Dick Butkus. The finalists, their coaches and families are invited to attend the Butkus Award Gala festivities including a welcome reception, golf tournament and silent auction.
The independent Butkus Award Selection Committee for the 2005 Butkus Award, comprised of national media members, is solely responsible for all voting in the selection process. Selection Committee members have been evaluating the candidates since the beginning of the season and will continue their review throughout the entire football season. Voting for the three Butkus Award finalists and the Butkus Award winner will be conducted by confidential ballots of the Butkus Award Selection Committee.
