Paul Poslsuzny captured "Linebacker U.'s" second Butkus honor last year, joining LaVar Arrington, who won it in 1999. Posluszny has the opportunity to join Brian Bosworth as the only repeat winner of the award since it's inception 22 years ago.
The three finalists will be announced on November 9 and the winner of the will be announced Saturday, December 9, at the Butkus Award® Gala in Orlando, Fla.
Earlier this week, Posluszny was named a semi-finalist for the 2006 Rotary Lombardi Award, presented to the nation's premier lineman or linebacker.
The 2006 pre-season Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Posluszny leads the Nittany Lions with 57 tackles this season, one sack and two pass break-ups. He is the third Penn State football defenseman to record 300 career tackles and is only 31 away from breaking Greg Buttle's school career record.
Here are the other semi-finalists for the Butkus Award:
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
Brandon Siler, Florida
Patrick Willis, Mississippi
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