Syracuse Linebacker Dyshawn Davis Named to Butkus Award Watch List

Yet another Syracuse player finds himself on a preseason watch list -- and this time, it's linebacker Dyshawn Davis. The senior Orange linebacker was one of 50-plus players named to the initial group of Butkus Award Watch List honorees. The winner will be announced in December along with the rest of the national college football awards (save the Heisman Trophy, of course).

While Davis found himself a bit hindered by injury last season, he's still projected to make a huge impact at outside linebacker in 2014 -- just as he has throughout his Syracuse career. Last year, he had seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 48 tackles and two pass-breakups. That's down a bit from some fantastic 2012 numbers (71 tackles, 14 TFLs), but againL injuries. Obviously the folks who put together the award watch list also understand that he's much more likely to get back to those 2012 levels.

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Since the Butkus Award's inception in 1985, no Syracuse player has ever won it. The only other Orange player that's turned up as a previous watch list honoree for the award is Keith Bulluck in 1999.

The ACC's well-represented overall on this year's Butkus Award Watch List, with six players overall. Syracuse also finds itself well-represented in pre-season honors thus far, with Sean Hickey named to the Outland Trophy Watch List and Riley Dixon named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List.

So congrats, Dyshawn! And good luck in your quest to become the first Orange Butkus Award winner.