Oct. 18, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -
Maryland's Erin Henderson has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best collegiate linebacker, as announced by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (DACO) on Thursday.
Henderson, the Terps' active career leader in tackles with 169, led Maryland in stops in each of its first five games this season, before sitting out the Georgia Tech game with an injury. He hopes to return for the Virginia game Saturday.
The junior is currently tied for 14th in the NCAA in tackles per game (11.00) and ranks 55th in tackles for loss per game (1.20). He is the second-leading tackler in the ACC.
Six of those tackles have been for losses. He also one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries on the year, and has been effective in pass coverage as well, with an interception and two pass breakups.
In Maryland's 34-24 upset of No. 10 Rutgers on Sept. 29, Henderson had 11 stops, his 11th career double-digit tackle output.
He was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2006, after missing all of the previous year with a knee injury. Henderson tallied 8.8 tackles per game last season, second most in the ACC.
The Butkus Award is bestowed upon the top linebacker in college football. Patrick Willis of Mississippi won in 2006.
Joining Henderson on the semifinal list are Dan Connor (Penn State), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Jordon Dizon (Colorado), Ali Highsmith (LSU), James Laurinaitis (Ohio State), J Leman (Illinois), Ben Moffitt (South Florida), Keith Rivers (USC) and Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky).
A 2007 Playboy All-American, Henderson was one of 65 student-athletes selected to the original watch list. In the preseason, he was also selected to the watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award, which both honor the top defensive player in the nation.
Henderson's bother, E.J., who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings and was an All-America linebacker at Maryland, won the 2002 Butkus Award, after he totaled 175 tackles that year.
Three finalists will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 9 and the winner in December in Orlando, Fla.
