Butkus award given to the nations best linebacker. Past award winners have been NFL players like Patrick Willis, Paul Pozluszny, and Derrick Johnson. Moffitt has been great this year and has helped the Bull defense dominate good offensive teams and get wins at Auburn and against West Virginia.
On the season Moffitt has 52 Tackles, 27 of which have been solo. He also has 3 interceptions, which he got at key times in the games, and one even returned one for a touchdown against WVU. Moffitt is also the leader on the defense and makes sure that the plays are called and that everyone is in their correct position for the play. He provides much more than athleticism, but also provides the senior leadership the defense needs to be successful.
Moffitt has some tough competition for the award this year though. The other 9 semi-finalists include: Ali Highsmith (LSU), Dan Conner (PSU), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Jordan Dizzo (Colorado), Erin Henderson (Maryland), James Luarinaitis (OSU), J Lemman (Illinois), Keithm Rivers (USC), and Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky). Conner is another great linebacker out of PSU and James Laurinaitis is also up for the Lombardi award. Moffitt will need to continue his great play for the rest of the season, and he will also need his team to keep winning and stay in the national spotlight. Moffitt has been great all year, but I don't expect him to take this award in the end.
George Selvie was not even on the Lombardi watch list until about a week ago and now he is a semi-finalist for the award. The Lombardi is given to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the country. Selvie is a great talent and has been dominant all year long. Selvie leads the nation in sacks with 11.5 and has 17 sacks in 19 career games. Not only does he get sacks, but he also causes havoc in the backfield.
Selvie has shown not only the speed needed to play defensive end, but all the physicality that is needed to be a great DE. One thing that Selvie has that you see Gaines Adams lacks is the nasty streak and physicals needed to go up against the biggest LT in the game. Selvie is only a Sophomore, so that may hurt his chances of getting the award.
Just like Moffiit, Selvie has some tough completion for his award. The other 11 semi-finalists are: Glenn Dorsey (LSU), James Laurinaitis (OSU), Sam Baker (USC), Duke Robinson (OK), Xavier Adibi (VT), Calais Campbell (Miami), Dan Conner (PSU), J Lemmen (Illinois), Chris Long (UVA), Jack Long (Michigan), and Alex Mack (CAL). Dorsey maybe the best defensive player in the nation and once again Conner and Laurinaitis are up for their second award. Selvie does lead the nation in sacks and if he keeps it up he stands a good chance of winning the award, but it will hurt that he is only a sophomore.
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