Kelvin Smith is a preseason Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Award candidate.
Smith Named to Preseason Butkus Award Watch List
8/24/2006 2:50:42 PM | Football
Syracuse University senior linebacker Kelvin Smith is a 2006 pre-season Butkus Award candidate. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker.
Smith is also a member of the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, which is presented annually to the top linemen, offensive or defensive, in college football. Head coach Greg Robinson believes that Smith’s love of the game translates to his success on the gridiron.
“To be an outstanding football player, there has to be a love of the game,” Robinson said. “KJ loves the game of football. It’s obvious he has been exposed to it for a long time and he doesn’t want to live without it. He plays a position – the middle linebacker position – that calls upon a player to be able to play in the most physical part of the game and to have the ability to key and diagnose in a fashion that he can get to that ball in a hurry. KJ is one who is excellent as a key and diagnose football player. Then, when he gets there – what I term ‘the moment of truth’ – he does the way a middle linebacker is supposed to, and that is he makes his presence felt.”
Smith led the team with 84 tackles last season, including seven tackles for a loss and two sacks. He also added one interception and one forced fumble. A three-year starter, Smith has recorded 210 tackles during his college career. He has also posted 17 tackles for a loss, four interceptions, three sacks and one forced fumble.
Smith is one of 65 student-athletes on the Butkus Award Watch List, including 2005 winner Paul Posluszny of Penn State. The watch list will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 19 and three finalists on Thursday, November 9. The winner will be announced on Saturday, December 9 at the Butkus Award Gala in Orlando, Florida.
Smith and the Orange open the 2006 season with an away game against Wake Forest on Sept. 2. The team then travels back to the Carrier Dome for the home opener against Iowa on Sept. 9. Season and individual game tickets are available via the internet and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (1-888-DOMETIX). To purchase tickets via the internet, click here.
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