Three Oklahoma Sooners' players added to Butkus and Lombardi Watch Lists - Examiner.com

The Butkus and Lombardi Award watch lists were released on July 17 and four members of the Oklahoma Sooners were named to the preseason lists.

Ben Habern, Gabe Ikard and Corey Nelson all ended up on the preseason Lombardi watch list for the best lineman or linebacker in the nation. Tom Wort made the Butkus award list, presented to the best linebacker in the nation. The Butkus award is one that the Sooners’ legendary players know well.

Created in 1985, and named after legendary linebacker Dick Butkus, three Oklahoma Sooners players have won the Butkus Award. Brian Bosworth won the first two Butkus Awards ever presented and then Rocky Calmus and Teddy Lehman each won the award in the Bob Stoops’ era.

This is Wort’s second appearance on the list. He finished 2011 with 71 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Ben Habern added the Lombardi watch list to his nominations for the Rimington and Outland award lists. Gabe Ikard had 88 knockdown blocks on 860 snaps in 2011. The award list is the first in the career of Corey Nelson, who finished 2011 with 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

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