(Read this story at CSURams.com)

The 32nd annual Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s best linebackers at the collegiate, professional and high school levels, announced its 2016 preseason watch list on Tuesday, and among the 51 collegiate players recognized was Colorado State defender Kevin Davis. He is the third Ram in as many years to be named to the watch list, joining Aaron Davis in 2014 and Cory James in 2015.

Davis jumped onto the scene immediately in 2015, recovering a fumble in the end zone on the second play of the season to score CSU’s first points. He went on to lead the Rams for tackles (101) and tackles for loss (14.0) and earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors. In his first year starting, Davis earned starts in all 13 contests and ranked in the top 10 in the MW for total tackles and tackles for loss. During a stretch dating back to the 2014 season, Davis was part of at least one tackle for loss in 10 consecutive games. He also intercepted a fourth-quarter pass in a win at New Mexico to help CSU become bowl eligible for the third year in a row.

Davis was born in Germany and grew up in Colorado Springs. He is a double major studying sociology and interdisciplinary liberal arts.

Mirroring the legendary “51” pro jersey of the award’s namesake, Dick Butkus, whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in football history, each watch list features 51 players who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot. Davis is one of four players from the Mountain West on the watch list.

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 initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs. Semifinalists for the award will be named on Oct. 31 and finalists on Nov. 21.

Davis is the fourth Ram to be named to a preseason watch list this season, joining Jake Bennett (Rimington Trophy), Hayden Hunt (Ray Guy Award) and Fred Zerblis (Outland Trophy). The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a 12-day period this month, with 17 of the association’s 22 awards selecting a preseason watch list.