UM Places 2 On Butkus Watch List
Aug. 23, 2002
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – University of Miami junior linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams are listed among the nation’s top linebackers on the 2002 Butkus Award watch list compiled by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando on Thursday.
Vilma, from Coral Gables, led the Hurricanes in tackles with 79 (54 solos) during the 2001 regular season. An exceptional student-athlete who took control of the defense in his sophomore season, Vilma started 11 of 12 games during Miami’s run to the national championship after fighting back from a knee injury that required surgery and caused him to miss all but two practices of spring workouts. Vilma earned First-Team All-BIG EAST recognition from the league’s head coaches in 2001 also was named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.
Williams, a native of Pittsburg, Calif., is just coming into his own as a linebacker as he returns as the starter at weakside linebacker. In 2001, Williams made the move back to linebacker from fullback after playing a vital role at fullback as a true freshman in 2000. Williams came to Miami after earning consensus recognition as the nation’s top high school defensive player in 1999. Last season, Williams finished seventh on the team in tackles with 43, started all but one game of the season (missing the Troy State game with an ankle injury suffered on the game’s first play at Pittsburgh) and began developing into a playmaker late in the season.
“It’s a tremendous honor for our program to have two deserving linebackers named to the Butkus Award Watch List,” UM head coach Larry Coker said. “Jon and D.J. are outstanding players and fine representatives of our program on the field and in the classroom. They are truly deserving of any honors they receive.”
The Butkus Award is presented each season to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker. The watch list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on October 17 and three semifinalists will be announced on November 14. The award is named for former University of Illinois and Chicago Bears’ NFL Hall of Fame member Dick Butkus.
The watch list includes 67 players.
Former Miami linebacker Dan Morgan won the Butkus Award in 2000.
###
