Nguyen Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
Oct 16, 1997 | Football
October 16, 1997
Texas A&M junior inside linebacker Dat Nguyen was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation's top linebacker, the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc., and Joyner Sportsmedicine Institute announced today.
"Being named a Butkus Award semifinalist is well-deserved recognition for Dat," Aggie coach R.C. Slocum said. "We have had a long line of outstanding linebackers here at Texas A&M, but no one has had a greater impact on our games."
Nguyen (whose first and last name is pronounced DAT-WIN) leads the No. 14-ranked Aggies (5-0) in total tackles with 43 after five games. Nguyen is also ranked among the team leaders in tackles for loss of yardage (5/-14), fumbles forced (2), fumbles recovered (2) and interceptions (1 for 32-yard touchdown).
Nguyen, an All-Big 12 selection last season as a sophomore, has led the Wrecking Crew in tackles the past two seasons and is averaging 10.2 stops per game for his career. With 284 career tackles, Nguyen is pace to break two-time All-American Johnny Holland's school record of 455 tackles.
"He plays with such intensity," Slocum added. "Dat is one of those guys that plays every play like it will be his last."
Last week against after the Aggies' 56-17 victory over Iowa State, Cyclone head coach Dan McCarney had this to say about A&M's Nguyen:
"He's as fine a linebacker as I've seen in college football," said McCarney, who coached in the Big Ten for 18 seasons and the Big 12 for three. "He's relentless, has tremendous speed and quickness. Every coach in American would love to have him on his football team. Hopefully, we won't see any better than him this year."
McCarney's quarterback Todd Bandhauer added, "Dat Nguyen is the best linebacker I've ever faced. He makes a lot of plays."
