Lehman wins Butkus Award as top linebacker

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Oklahoma's Teddy Lehman won the Butkus Award on Friday night as college football's top linebacker.

Lehman, a senior, also won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player Thursday night. He beat out Miami's Jonathan Vilma and Derrick Johnson of Texas for the Butkus Award.

Lehman is also the third Sooners linebacker to win the award, following Rocky Calmus in 2001 and Brian Bosworth, who won it in 1985 and 1986.

Lehman led Oklahoma's top-ranked defense, helping the Sooners make the Bowl Championship Series title game against LSU at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4.

"This is just a tremendous honor, considering who I shared this stage with," Lehman said at Orlando's Downtown Athletic Club. "I really couldn't ask for a better way to finish my career, with the exception of one thing -- and that's beating LSU in the Sugar Bowl and winning a national championship."

Lehman had 109 tackles, including 17 for losses, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.

"I was a defensive coordinator for a lot longer than I've been a head coach, and this is one of the greatest honors of the year," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "The last three years, Teddy has just been a tremendous player for us, and he deserves everything that has come his way."