Clovis West High’s Caleb Kelly named to Butkus Award prep watch list

Clovis West High senior Caleb Kelly was named Tuesday to the Butkus Award preseason watch list for high school players.

Kelly is one of 51 candidates nationwide for an award that goes to the country’s best linebacker, a list that includes Liberty-Bakersfield’s Krys Barnes.

The five-star-rated Kelly has offers from more than 20 universities, including USC, Oregon, Oklahoma, Michigan and Fresno State.

The 6-foot-3, 213-pounder was named to All-State junior first team by Cal-Hi Sports and earned Fab 50 honors from The Bee as the Golden Eagles went 6-6 and advance to the second round of the Central Section Division I playoffs.

No one from Fresno State was named to the Butkus college watch list, though players can become eligible as the season progresses.

Semifinalists will be named Nov. 2 and finalists Nov. 23 before winners are notified on or before Dec. 8.

Former Hoover High star and UCLA linebacker Erick Kendricks was the 2014 college winner.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 10:19 AM with the headline "Clovis West High’s Caleb Kelly named to Butkus Award prep watch list."