Willis a Finalist

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss senior linebacker Patrick Willis was named to two different national award lists on Thursday. Willis is the first player ever from the state of Mississippi to be named a finalist for the Butkus Award and he was also selected as one of seven semifinalists for the third annual Lott Trophy.

Willis joins sophomore James Laurinaitis of Ohio State and 2005 winner senior Paul Posluszny of Penn State as the three finalists for the 2006 Butkus Award®. The winner will be announced Saturday, December 9, 2006. The Butkus Award® will be presented to the winner by the award’s namesake former University of Illinois and Chicago Bear NFL Hall of Fame member, Dick Butkus.