H.B. Blades a Butkus Award Candidate

Aug. 24, 2006

   University of Pittsburgh senior linebacker H.B. Blades has been named to the "watch list" for the Butkus Award, annually presented to the nation's top linebacker.

   Blades (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) is one of 65 preliminary candidates for the award, which is presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando.

   This is the latest preseason honor for Blades, who was named to numerous All-America squads this summer. In addition to the Butkus Award, he was named to three additional major award watch lists, including the Rotary Lombardi Award (top lineman/linebacker), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player) and the Lott Trophy (top defensive player).

   A two-time first-team All-Big East selection, Blades has his sights set on national accolades this year. As Pitt's starting middle linebacker last season he led all Big East defenders with 121 tackles and ranked 13^th nationally with 11 stops per game.

   Entering his third season as a starter, Blades has compiled 286 career tackles to rank 16^th all-time at Pitt. He has compiled 229 of those stops over the last two years and should finish his career as one of the top five all-time tacklers ever at Pitt.

   Pitt will play a 12-game regular season, including seven home contests at Heinz Field in 2006. The Panthers open this year's campaign at home against Virginia Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.

   For ticket information, call (800) 643-PITT or log on to www.PittsburghPanthers.com.

University of Pittsburgh Athletics

H.B. Blades a Butkus Award Candidate

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