July 16, 2012

Three University of South Carolina defensive standouts have been named to preseason watch lists, it was announced today.

Senior outside linebacker DeVonte Holloman, a 6-2, 241-pounder from Charlotte, N.C. has been named to the 28th annual Butkus Award® Watch List honoring the nation’s top linebacker, while a pair of defensive ends, senior Devin Taylor and sophomore Jadeveon Clowney, were named to the 43rd annual Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, given to the nation’s top lineman or linebacker.

Taylor, a 6-8, 267-pounder from Beaufort, S.C., and Clowney, a 6-6, 256-pounder from Rock Hill, S.C., were both previously named to both the Bronko Nagurski and the Bednarik Watch Lists. Clowney was a preseason first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches, while Taylor earned second-team accolades.

The Butkus watch list contains 51 candidates, honoring the now-retired professional jersey number of Dick Butkus, who is regarded by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history. The selection panel is comprised of 51 coaches, evaluators and journalists, coordinated by Pro Football Weekly. Semi-finalists will be named October 22, finalists November 20, and winners will be notified on or before December 4. Winners will be featured in a television special a week before the Super Bowl.

The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List is a reference tool for the Selection Committee. It will be periodically revised until the first round of voting is completed. The first round of voting determines the Top 25 quarterfinalists for 2012. The second round of voting will determine the final 7 semifinalists or “Seven Blocks of Granite”. The third round of voting will determine the “four finalists” from the “Seven Blocks of Granite.” The fourth and final round of voting will determine the winner of The 43rd Rotary Lombardi Award which will be announced on national television live on December 5, 2012 at The Hobby Center in Houston.