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Stanford's Chase Thomas, Shayne Skov and Trent Murphy have been included on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the top linebacker in college football.

The preseason watch list for the Butkus Award includes 51 candidates from 38 universities. Stanford and Florida are the only two schools with three or more candidates on the preseason watch list.

Thomas earned Sporting News All-America honors and first team All-Pac-12 Conference marks after a sensational junior campaign. He led the Pac-12 in tackles for loss per game at 1.35 (17.5 total) and ranked tied for second in sacks per game at 0.65 (8.5 total). He was also was credited with five forced fumbles (0.38 per game), which ranked second in the conference and tied for 10th nationally.

Skov was limited to just three games last season due to injury. However, he led Stanford in tackles as a junior in 2010 with 84, including 50 solo stops. He also registered 7.5 sacks among his 10.5 tackles-for-loss.

Murphy started all 13 games last season opposite Chase Thomas at outside linebacker and finished with year with 40 tackles, including 6.5 sacks among his 10.0 tackles-for-loss.

Thomas and Skov also have been included on preseason watch lists for the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards, honoring the nation's top defensive player.

Candidates in addition to those appearing on the watch list may be considered for the Award. Semifinalists will be named October 22, finalists November 20, and winners will be notified on or before December 4.

— Stanford Sports Information

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