ORLANDO, Fla. -- Oklahoma senior Rocky Calmus won the Butkus Award on Friday as the nation's top linebacker.

"This is such an honor to win this award," Calmus said at Orlando's Downtown Athletic Club. "It was such a great thing for me to be considered as one of the best linebackers in America. And the two guys I was up against are great players."

Maryland's E.J. Henderson and UCLA's Robert Thomas were also finalists.

Calmus, an All-American and Butkus finalist in 2000, had 117 tackles this season. He had 15 tackles for losses, one interception, nine pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

He helped No. 11 Oklahoma go 10-2 and earn a Cotton Bowl berth.

"This is just an outstanding way to honor a great young man," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "Rocky has great character and is a great student-athlete. I saw this in him early in his career. He's never late, never misses a practice and leads wherever he goes."