Aug. 31, 2003

LAS VEGAS - UNLV junior linebacker Adam Seward has been announced as a member of the 2003 Butkus Award Watch List by the Downtown Orlando Athletic Club.

Seward (6-2, 250), a graduate of Bonanza High School in Las Vegas, led the Mountain West Conference in tackles in 2002 with 133 - the third-best single-season total in UNLV history. The son of former Rebel assistant football coach Tom Seward, the preseason All-MWC pick totaled eight tackles, including one for a loss of five yards, in the Rebels' season-opening victory Friday over Toledo.

Created in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando Inc., the Butkus Award carries the name and support of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history, Dick Butkus. Former Maryland linebacker EJ Henderson won last year's award.

The 90-player Watch List will be trimmed to 10 semi-finalists on Thursday, October 16. That list will be cut down to three finalists, who will be announced via a national teleconference with players, coaches, media members and Butkus Award officials on Thursday, November 13. The 2003 winner will be announced Friday, December 12.