July 12, 2016

University of South Carolina linebacker T.J. Holloman has been named to the preseason watch list for the 32nd annual Butkus Award, it was announced today.

Holloman, a 6-2, 230-pound senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., has played in 36 games over the past three seasons, making 16 starts. He has been credited with 140 career tackles with 10.0 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, five interceptions and three recovered fumbles. A 2015 team captain, Holloman is a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was named the Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete Representative at the 2016 Garnet & Black Spring Game.

Mirroring the legendary “51” pro jersey of the award’s namesake Dick Butkus whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in football history, the collegiate watch list features 51 players from 44 universities who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot. Appearance on the watch list is not required to become a semi-finalist.

Semi-finalists will be named October 31, finalists November 21, and winners will be notified on or before December 6.

Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus’ I Play Clean^TM initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs. More information is available at www.iplayclean.org.