Oklahoma State University Athletics
Collins, Lavine On Butkus Award Watch List
August 28, 2007 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State linebackers Chris Collins and Patrick Lavine were named to the Butkus Award's preseason watch list, it was announced today by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. The Butkus Award honors the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
Oklahoma State was the only Big 12 school and was one of only seven schools nationally with two players named to the 2007 Butkus Award preseason watch list. The Cowboys linebacking corps was ranked as the number three unit in the Big 12 this preseason by Athlon Sports and also includes the most valuable player of last year's Independence Bowl, Jeremy Nethon.
Collins was an early-season star for the Cowboys in 2006 before sustaining a season-ending injury against Kansas. Despite having his season shortened to only six games, Collins ranked 10th on the team with 31 tackles. He posted 3.5 tackles for loss and registered a sack against Arkansas State. In addition, he recovered a fumble against Florida Atlantic. He was a 2007 preseason fourth-team all-Big 12 selection by Phil Steele.
Lavine ranked second on the team with 70 tackles in 2006, highlighted by a pair of 11-tackle games in consecutive contests against Nebraska and Texas. He registered sacks against both Nebraska and Oklahoma, forced a fumble against Nebraska and recovered a fumble against Texas. For his efforts, he was recognized as a first-team Freshman All-America by Rivals and was a member of The Sporting News' Big 12 all-freshman team.
A total of 66 players nationally were included on the watch list, which will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 18. That semi-finalist list will be cut down to three finalists and will be announced on Thursday, November 9. The winner will be announced in December in Orlando, Fla.
Oklahoma State was the only Big 12 school and was one of only seven schools nationally with two players named to the 2007 Butkus Award preseason watch list. The Cowboys linebacking corps was ranked as the number three unit in the Big 12 this preseason by Athlon Sports and also includes the most valuable player of last year's Independence Bowl, Jeremy Nethon.
Collins was an early-season star for the Cowboys in 2006 before sustaining a season-ending injury against Kansas. Despite having his season shortened to only six games, Collins ranked 10th on the team with 31 tackles. He posted 3.5 tackles for loss and registered a sack against Arkansas State. In addition, he recovered a fumble against Florida Atlantic. He was a 2007 preseason fourth-team all-Big 12 selection by Phil Steele.
Lavine ranked second on the team with 70 tackles in 2006, highlighted by a pair of 11-tackle games in consecutive contests against Nebraska and Texas. He registered sacks against both Nebraska and Oklahoma, forced a fumble against Nebraska and recovered a fumble against Texas. For his efforts, he was recognized as a first-team Freshman All-America by Rivals and was a member of The Sporting News' Big 12 all-freshman team.
A total of 66 players nationally were included on the watch list, which will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 18. That semi-finalist list will be cut down to three finalists and will be announced on Thursday, November 9. The winner will be announced in December in Orlando, Fla.
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