ORLANDO- The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO), the organization which annually presents the prestigious Butkus Award® to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker has announced the 10 Semi-Finalists for this year’s award. In alphabetical order:

This list will be cut down to three finalists and announced on Thursday, November 9. The winner will be announced in December in Orlando, FL. The independent Butkus Award ® Selection Committee for the 2007 Butkus Award ®, comprised of some of the nation's foremost journalists, is solely and exclusively responsible for all voting in the Butkus Award ® selection process. Voting for the three finalists and the Butkus Award ® winner will be conducted by exclusive 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: Patrick Willis (2006-Mississippi); Paul Posluszny (2005-Penn State); 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 Cal); 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 of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history.