MAC Reporter Online continues its roundup of college football award watch lists with the Butkus Award Watch List.
Dick Butkus, whom NFL Films considered the best defensive player in football history, plied his pro trade in a now legendary number "51" jersey. The Butkus Award watch list mirrors that number with 51 players reviewed by a 51-person selection committee of experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot.
Jaylon Smith (now with the Dallas Cowboys) of Notre Dame was the 2015 collegiate Butkus Award winner. One finalist, Raekwon McMillan of Ohio State) returns to head the 2016 group. That list includes . . .
Dick Butkus, whom NFL Films considered the best defensive player in football history, plied his pro trade in a now legendary number "51" jersey. The Butkus Award watch list mirrors that number with 51 players reviewed by a 51-person selection committee of experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot.
Jaylon Smith (now with the Dallas Cowboys) of Notre Dame was the 2015 collegiate Butkus Award winner. One finalist, Raekwon McMillan of Ohio State) returns to head the 2016 group. That list includes . . .
. . . candidates from 44 universities.
One MAC player is on this year's watch list:
Austin Valdez of Bowling Green.
Complete list:
Ryan Anderson Alabama
Kendall Beckwith LSU
Vince Biegel Wisconsin
Dante Booker Ohio State
Ben Boulware Clemson
Tyus Bowser Houston
Richie Brown Mississippi State
Riley Bullough Michigan State
Jason Cabinda Penn State
Jeff Camilli Fresno State
Lorenzo Carter Georgia
Jermaine Carter Maryland
Zach Cunningham Vanderbilt
Kevin Davis Colorado State
Jarrad Davis Florida
Nick DeLuca North Dakota State
Brooks Ellis Arkansas
Jordan Evans Oklahoma
Devonte' Fields Louisville
Salamo Fiso Arizona State
Reuben Foster Alabama
T.J. Holloman South Carolina
Travin Howard TCU
Shane Huber Massachusetts
Malik Jefferson Texas
Josey Jewell Iowa
Peter Kalambayi Stanford
Harvey Langi BYU
Keith Kelsey Louisville
Micah Kiser Virginia
Elijah Lee Kansas State
Raekwon McMillan Ohio State
Matt Milano Boston College
Charmeachealle Moore Kansas State
Nyles Morgan Notre Dame
Calvin Munson San Diego State
Hardy Nickerson Illinois
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Tennessee
T.J. Ricks Old Dominion
Auggie Sanchez South Florida
Michael Scherer Missouri
Cameron Smith USC
Steven Taylor Houston
Austin Valdez Bowling Green
Tanner Vallejo Boise State
Azeem Victor Washington
Anthony Walker Northwestern
Nyeem Warman-White Penn State
Tim Williams Alabama
Eric Wilson Cincinnati
Taylor Young Baylor
Semifinalists will be named Oct. 31, finalists Nov. 21 and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 6.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus’ I Play Clean™ initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
The 2015 Butkus Award winners:
Professional: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
Collegiate: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame (now Dallas Cowboys)
High School: Caleb Kelly, Clovis West, Calif. (now Oklahoma)
One MAC player is on this year's watch list:
Austin Valdez of Bowling Green.
Complete list:
Ryan Anderson Alabama
Kendall Beckwith LSU
Vince Biegel Wisconsin
Dante Booker Ohio State
Ben Boulware Clemson
Tyus Bowser Houston
Richie Brown Mississippi State
Riley Bullough Michigan State
Jason Cabinda Penn State
Jeff Camilli Fresno State
Lorenzo Carter Georgia
Jermaine Carter Maryland
Zach Cunningham Vanderbilt
Kevin Davis Colorado State
Jarrad Davis Florida
Nick DeLuca North Dakota State
Brooks Ellis Arkansas
Jordan Evans Oklahoma
Devonte' Fields Louisville
Salamo Fiso Arizona State
Reuben Foster Alabama
T.J. Holloman South Carolina
Travin Howard TCU
Shane Huber Massachusetts
Malik Jefferson Texas
Josey Jewell Iowa
Peter Kalambayi Stanford
Harvey Langi BYU
Keith Kelsey Louisville
Micah Kiser Virginia
Elijah Lee Kansas State
Raekwon McMillan Ohio State
Matt Milano Boston College
Charmeachealle Moore Kansas State
Nyles Morgan Notre Dame
Calvin Munson San Diego State
Hardy Nickerson Illinois
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Tennessee
T.J. Ricks Old Dominion
Auggie Sanchez South Florida
Michael Scherer Missouri
Cameron Smith USC
Steven Taylor Houston
Austin Valdez Bowling Green
Tanner Vallejo Boise State
Azeem Victor Washington
Anthony Walker Northwestern
Nyeem Warman-White Penn State
Tim Williams Alabama
Eric Wilson Cincinnati
Taylor Young Baylor
Semifinalists will be named Oct. 31, finalists Nov. 21 and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 6.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus’ I Play Clean™ initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
The 2015 Butkus Award winners:
Professional: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
Collegiate: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame (now Dallas Cowboys)
High School: Caleb Kelly, Clovis West, Calif. (now Oklahoma)
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