Butler, Rhodes named to Senior Bowl watch list

West Alabama cornerback Malcolm Butler and running back Kedrick Rhodes have been named to the 2014 Senior Bowl Watch List.

“It’s a tremendous honor for those two young men to be thought of that highly,” head coach Will Hall said. “The Senior Bowl is the most prestigious of all the all-star games in college football.”

Butler is a preseason first team Division II All-American and All-Gulf South Conference cornerback who recorded five interceptions and broke up nine more passes last season. He recorded 49 tackles, 43 solo, as the Tigers led the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2012.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be selected for the list, especially for a player from a Division II program,” Butler said. “They say hard work pays off and I have been working hard, staying humble and playing as hard as I can.”

Rhodes transferred to UWA from Florida International and was named to 2012 Doak Walker Award watch list. He rushed for 2,159 yards and 13 touchdowns on 441 carries in three seasons for the Panthers. His best season was 2011 when he carried 234 times for 1,149 yards and eight TDs.

“I really wasn’t expecting to be named to that list with all the great running backs in the nation. It was a surprise and an honor to me,” Rhodes said. “Still, I have to focus on team goals and not individual goals. If we accomplish those team goals it will take me where I want to go.”

The players on the Watch List will be narrowed to 110 roster spots that form the North and South squads for the annual all-star game. The 2014 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2014 at 3 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.