Toomey Named to Butkus Watch List

Aug. 27, 2004

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas linebacker Gabriel Toomey joined eight other Big 12 Conference players on the 2004 Butkus Award Watch List honoring the nation’s top linebackers in a release issued by the Downtown Athletic Club, Inc. Toomey, a junior, was named third-team All-Big 12 after the 2003 season. The West Des Moines, Iowa native was second on the team with 121 tackles last year and tied for the team lead with 10 tackles for loss.

The 65-member Butkus Award Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thurs., Oct. 14, then to three finalists announced via a national teleconference on Thurs., Nov. 11, until the winner is announced Fri., Dec. 10. Dick Butkus, the award’s namesake and former University of Illinois and Chicago Bear NFL Hall of Fame member, will present the award to the recipient.

An independent selection committee, composed of 30 of the nation’s foremost national media members, is solely responsible for all voting in the selection process. 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, sponsored by The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc., has been awarded annually since 1985 to the top linebacker in college football.