Crowder, Leak named to preseason watch lists

University of Florida linebacker Channing Crowder was named to the Butkus Award watch list, while quarterback Chris Leak was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list as named by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando and the Walter Camp foundation, respectively, on Thursday. The Butkus Award is awarded to the nation's top linebacker while the Walter Camp award goes to the best overall player in college football.

Crowder is coming off a 2003 campaign in which the then true freshman compiled 106 total tackles, five for a loss, and two quarterback sacks in 11 games, starting nine, a record for freshmen linebackers at UF.

In 2003, Leak played in all 13 games with nine starts. He has completed 190 of 320 career passes for 2,435 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a true freshman he had a 6-3 record as the starting quarterback, the highest winning percentage of any freshman QB in the country.

The Butkus Award Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on Thursday, Oct. 14. That list will be cut down to three finalists which will be announced via a national teleconference with players, coaches, media members and Butkus Award officials on Thursday, November 11. The winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 10, 2004. 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.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list will be narrowed to ten semifinalists in early November. The 2004 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 117 Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on the ESPN/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet on Feb. 13, 2005 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven, Conn.

2004 Butkus Award Watch List

Anderson, Mike Idaho

McCune, Robert Louisville

Atkinson, Brian Northern Illinois

Mitchell, Lance Oklahoma

Avalos, Andy Boise State

Moore, Chris East Carolina

Blackstock, Darryl Virginia

Morrison, Kirk San Diego State

Boley, Michael Southern Miss

Nande, Terna Miami (OH)

Brooks, Ahmad Virginia

Nicholas, Stephen South Florida

Bunting, Nick Tulsa

Nicholson, A.J. Florida State

Burnett, Kevin Tennessee

Osemwegie, Moses Vanderbilt

Carpenter, Bobby Ohio State

Pollard, Jonathan Oregon State

Crowder, Channing Florida

Pruitt, Kellen Syracuse

Derting, Will Washington State

Reid, Lawrence Michigan

Duren, Paul Oklahoma State

Rhule, Stanford UCF

Enzor, Jamar Cincinnati

Rodriguez, Robert UTEP

Fincher, Alfred Connecticut

Ruud, Barrett Nebraska

Glover, Richard New Mexico State

Ryans, DeMeco Alabama

Goolsby, Mike Notre Dame

Seward, Adam UNLV

Greenway, Chad Iowa

Simon, Kevin Tennessee

Grootegoed, Matt USC

Sims, Ted Kansas State

Gyorko, Scott West Virginia

Sinclair, Matt Illinois

Havner, Spencer UCLA

Smith, Kelvin Syracuse

Hawk, A.J. Ohio State

Stanley, Ron Michigan State

Hill, Leroy Clemson

Tatupu, Lofa USC

Hodge, Abdul Iowa

Thomas, Pat NC State

Hunter, Wendell California

Thurman, Odell Georgia

Jackson, D'Qwell Maryland

Toomey, Gabriel Kansas

Johnson, Derrick Texas

Tuner, Lionel LSU

Jordan, Anthony Toledo

Wallace, Rian Temple

Kinney, James Missouri

Warren, Justin Texas A&M

Koehl, Wade Houston

Watts, Robert Utah State

Lloyd, Maurice Connecticut

Williams, Leon Miami (FL)

London, Justin UCLA

Woodfin, Zac UAB

Mahl, Eric Kent State

Woods, Pierre Michigan

McCoy, Matt San Diego State

2004 Walter Camp Player of the Year "Watch List"

Marion Barber III, RB, Minnesota

Cedric Bensen, RB, Texas

Josh Bullocks, LB, Nebraska

Timmy Chang, QB, Hawaii

Patrick Cobbs, RB, North Texas

Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma

Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma

P.J. Daniels, RB, Georgia Tech

Anthony Davis, RB, Wisconsin

Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan

David Greene, QB, Georgia

Matt Grotegoed, LB, USC

Tramain Hall, RB, North Carolina State

A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State

Matt Herian, TE, Nebraska

Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas

Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston

Chris Leak, QB, Florida

Matt Leinart, QB, USC

Jermelle Lewis, RB, Iowa

Geoff McArthur, WR, California

DonTrell Moore, RB, New Mexico

Lance Moore, WR, Toledo

Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut

Kyle Orton, QB, Purdue

David Pollack, DE, Georgia

Walter Reyes, RB, Syracuse

Chris Rix, QB, Florida State

Aaron Rodgers, QB, California

Antrel Rolle, DB, Miami (Fla.)

Brad Smith, QB, Missouri

Darren Sproules, RB, Kansas State

Justin Vincent, RB, LSU

Andrew Walter, QB, Arizona State

Corey Webster, DB, LSU

Jason White, QB, Oklahoma

Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis

Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn

Vincent Young, QB, Texas

report courtesy of UF sports information