Brandon Hoyte (shown here aganst Tennessee in 2004) has been named to the 2005 Butkus Award watch list.

Brandon Hoyte Named To Butkus Award Watch List

Aug. 25, 2005

University of Notre Dame senior linebacker and defensive team captain Brandon Hoyte has been named one of 65 candidates on the 2005 Butkus Award watch list. The award honors the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.

A fifth-year senior in 2005, Hoyte is a two-time academic all-district honoree with 205 career tackles, six career sacks and four forced fumbles (including three in 2004). A native of Parlin, N.J., Hoyte is a leader both on and off the field for the Irish.

Voted defensive team captain by his teammates, Hoyte has seen action in 37 career games, making 15 starts and piling up 19.5 tackles for loss. He also is active in several community service projects including Notre Dame’s “Tackle The Arts.”

Hoyte finished second on the team in tackles last season, making 74 stops (38 solo) along with eight tackles for a loss and three sacks. Projected as a starter on the outside for the Irish this season, Hoyte is poised to end his Irish career with an outstanding senior campaign.

Named a freshman All-American by The Sporting News in 2002, Hoyte has collected more than 50 tackles in each season (57 in ’02, 74 in ’03, 74 in ’04).

Hoyte is the fourth Irish player to receive mention among national collegiate football award watch lists. Junior quarterback Brady Quinn is among the Maxwell Award watch list selections (college football player of the year), senior tight end Anthony Fasano was named to the Mackey Award watch list (top collegiate tight end) and senior kicker D.J. Fitzpatrick was on the Groza Award (top collegiate kicker) watch list.

The Butkus Award Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 20. That semi-finalist 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.

This year’s Watch List includes 65 noteworthy candidates that represent schools and conferences from across the nation. The independent selection committee for the 2005 Butkus Award, comprised of 29 of the nation’s foremost national media members, is solely responsible for all voting in the selection process. Selection Committee members have already started evaluating the candidates and will continue their review throughout the entire football season. Additional Watch List candidates may be added in the coming weeks. Voting for the three Butkus Award® finalists and the Butkus Award® winner will be conducted by confidential ballots of the selection committee.

The Butkus Award is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football. Past recipients include such outstanding linebackers as: Derrick Johnson (2004-Texas) Teddy Lehman (2003-Oklahoma); E.J. Henderson (2002-Maryland); Rocky Calmus (2001-Oklahoma); Dan Morgan (2000-Miami (FL); LaVar Arrington (1999-Penn State); Chris Claiborne (1998-Southern California); Andy Katzenmoyer (1997-Ohio State); Matt Russell (1996 Colorado); Kevin Hardy (1995-Illinois); Dana Howard (1994-Illinois); Trev Alberts (1993-Nebraska); Marvin Jones (1992-Florida State); Erick Anderson (1991-Michigan); Alfred Williams (1990-Colorado); Percy Snow (1989-Michigan State); Derrick Thomas (1988-Alabama); Paul McGowan (1997-Florida State); and Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986-Oklahoma).

Created in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando Inc., the Butkus Award® carries the name and support of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history, Dick Butkus.