Highsmith a Butkis Award Finalist!!!!

He probably won't win it, but that's awesome to see our players getting national pub. And it also shows the GREAT job pelini has done with this defense. And I love the fact that we get pressure on the QB w/o having to blitz all the time. That shows how good our d-line is. I just hope we don't lose Pelini to another school cause Im sure his name will be mentioned for HC jobs at the end of the season.

 

I have a question about these awards. I'm happy for Ali and everything, but wouldn't you all agree that Darry is actually playing better than Ali and would be mroe deserving of being a finalist than Ali? I have a feeling that you have to be announced as a candidate before the season to be eligible but if not then how is he not on this list? Regardless, congrats to Ali. I hope he wins.

 

I agree, but we all know that in this game the media feeds off of a player's exposure and that goes a looonnnnnnngggg way. How "embarrassing" would it be for them to let an "unknown" slip in?

 

Good Luck to Ali... Lets hope he wins it...

:geauxtige :lsup: LSU! :geauxtige

 

LSU doenst get awards like that... look at 2k3.. if lavalais couldnt win, then I dont see anyone at LSU winning..

 

Aren't nominees for these awards selected in the preseason and then players are knocked out of contention as the season goes on? In that case it would make sense that Beckwith is not there.

 

There is the Butkis Watch List's that's known to be at the beginning of the year full of LBs from around the nation. Toward the end of the year, it's narrowed down to finalists, weeks before a winner is selected.

I'm not trying to be negative, but I do believe Beckwith is "outplaying" Ali this year. However, if Bradie James and Trev Faulk couldn't win the Butkis, LaRon Landry can't win the Thorpe and Lavalais couldn't win the Nagurski or Outland, then I'm thinkin' Ali won't get his either. This is a tough list...

H.B. Blades- Pittsburgh
Buster Davis- Florida State
David Harris- Michigan
Ali Highsmith- Louisiana State
James Laurinaitis- Ohio State
Rey Maualuga- USC
Sam Olajubutu- Arkansas
Paul Posluszny- Penn State
Brandon Siler- Florida
Patrick Willis- Mississippi
4/10 from the SEC

http://www.butkusaward.org/06semifinalist.htm

 

It's going to be hard to beat out Patrick Willis. That guy is a beast. Too bad the Saints will be drafting 32nd next year and won't have a shot at him. :thumb:

 

If Pat Willis does not wear Texans colors next year I'll be surprised.

Anyway, yeah Ali is a Semi-Finalist not a finalist, splitting hairs I know. maybe next season he'll be a finalist and a winner.

It would be great to see a Tiger get some hardware. Josh Reed's Biletnikoff is about the best we've had in a while.

 

I think Ali improved his chances with his performance against Fresno st. Got some tv exposure and played a nice game. :helmet: