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2 B1G LBs named semifinalists for Butkus Award
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Two Big Ten linebackers have been named semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given annually to the best linebacker in the country.
Rutgers’ Olakunle Fatukasi and Ohio State’s Pete Werner made the top 16 names nationally.
Fatukasi currently leads the Big Ten in tackles with 64. He also has 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble as the leader of the Scarlett Knight defense.
Werner has 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble in just four games. Werner and the Buckeyes have missed two of their last three games due to COVID-19.
It is a bit surprising that only two Big Ten players made the cut. Michigan State’s Antjuan Simmons and Iowa’s Nick Niemann would have been worth selections. There’s also the trio of Northwestern linebackers — Paddy Fisher, Blake Gallagher and Chris Bergin — who would have been deserving.
The last Big Ten linebacker to win the award was Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis in 2007. This used to be an award dominated by the Big Ten, as the conference won it 10 times between 1989 and 2007.
Last year’s winner was Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons.
The full list of semifinalists can be viewed on the Butkus Award’s website.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.