Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Nominees were announced today for the 25th Annual Butkus Award honoring the nation’s top football linebackers, and BC linebacker Mark Herzlich made the list -- again -- despite not playing this year after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

The 51-person selection committee elected to include Herzlich, who was a finalist in 2008, among the 16 semifinalists. Herzlich was diagnosed in May with Ewing's Sarcoma, but he has still played an integral, inspiring role to his teammates this year and intends to play for BC next year.

“Mark Herzlich would have been a top contender for the Butkus Award this year had it not been for his illness,” said Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly, who supervises selectors. “The committee is so impressed with his inspirational story of recovery that we wanted to add him as a nominee.”

Also on the list is UNC linebacker Quan Sturdivant, who has had an oustanding season so far. He and Herzlich are the ACC's only representatives on the list.

Here is the official list:

" Obi Ezeh, Michigan
" Chris Galippo, Southern California
" Mark Herzlich, Boston College
" Greg Jones, Michigan State
" Sergio Kindle, Texas
" Sean Lee, Penn State
" Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
" Rolando McClain, Alabama
" Von Miller, Texas A&M
" Brandon Spikes, Florida
" Daryl Washington, Texas Christian
" Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
" Eric Norwood, South Carolina
" Perry Riley, Louisiana State
" Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
" Rennie Curran, Georgia