SYRACUSE -- Syracuse University senior linebackers Doug Hogue of Yonkers, NY and Derrell Smith of New Castle, Del. are on the 2010 Butkus Award watch list. Hogue and Smith are among the 51 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) student-athletes named to the preseason watch list. Instituted in 1985 and named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, the Butkus Award is presented annually by the Butkus Foundation.
Hogue moved to linebacker from running back at the beginning of 2009 Spring practice. He started all 12 games for the Orange last season, ranking 21st nationally and second in the BIG EAST with .79 sacks per game. Hogue also notched 1.33 tackles for loss per game, which led the BIG EAST and ranked 20th nationally.
A 2009 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, Smith led the BIG EAST and set an SU single-season standard with four forced fumbles. The New Castle, Del. native also ranked eighth among BIG EAST defenders with 8.1 tackles per game and sixth with .65 sacks per game.
Smith is also among 60 student-athletes on the Chuck Bednarik watch list for the nation’s top defensive player, while senior punter Rob Long is one of seven student athletes on the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list.
The Orange kicks off the 2010 season at Akron on Saturday, September 4 (6:00 p.m., ESPN3). SU opens at home against Maine on September 18 at 7:15 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
