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B1G leads all conferences with 12 LBs on Butkus Award 2023 preseason watch list
By Andrew Olson
Published:
With the 2023 college football season nearing, the Butkus Award has released its preseason watch list.
The preseason watch list for the award going to the nation’s top linebacker features 51 players, a nod to the award’s namesake, Dick Butkus.
“I am always excited about seeing our great watch list players on the field,” Butkus said in a released statement. “When an outstanding player receives the Butkus Award he will know two things: First, he is recognized as the best of the best linebackers in America; Second, and in the long run most important, he will understand this recognition brings a responsibility of giving back.”
The Big Ten leads all conferences with 12 linebackers on the watch list:
- Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
- Michael Barrett, Michigan
- Abdul Carter, Penn State
- Aaron Casey, Indiana
- Steele Chambers, Ohio State
- Junior Colson, Michigan
- Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
- Cal Haladay, Michigan State
- Nick Jackson, Iowa
- Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
- Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin
- Tyreem Powell, Rutgers
Ohio State’s Tommy Eichenberg is 1 of 3 semifinalists from 2022 to make the 2023 preseason watch list. Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State are among the 7 schools with teammates on the watch list.
The award semifinalists are expected to be named on Oct. 30 with finalists to follow on Nov. 20. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 6. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
The full watch list is as follows:
Jaishawn Barham, MarylandMichael Barrett, MichiganJD Bertrand, Notre DameTatum Bethune, Florida StateBen Bywater, BYUAbdul Carter, Penn StateBarrett Carter, ClemsonAaron Casey, IndianaSteele Chambers, Ohio StateMason Cobb, USCKhari Coleman, Ole MissJunior Colson, MichiganEdgerrin Cooper, Texas A&MShaun Dolac, BuffaloJamon Dumas-Johnson, GeorgiaTommy Eichenberg, Ohio StateJaQues Evans, WKUJustin Flowe, ArizonaJaylan Ford, TexasDallas Gant, ToledoEaston Gibbs, WyomingCedric Gray, North CarolinaCal Haladay, Michigan StateJason Henderson, Old DominionTy’Ron Hopper, MissouriNick Jackson, IowaCurtis Jacobs, Penn StateJestin Jacobs, OregonJason Johnson, UCFTyrice Knight, UTEPDeontae Lawson, AlabamaMarist Liufau, Notre DameJordan Magee, Temple Jackson Mitchell, UConnSmael Mondon Jr., GeorgiaDarius Muasau, UCLAMaema Njongmeta, WisconsinChris Paul Jr., ArkansasHarold Perkins Jr., LSUJohn Pius, William & MaryTyreem Powell, RutgersKarene Reid, UtahDJ Schramm, Boise StateJackson Sirmon, CalOmar Speights, LSUDanny Stutsman, OklahomaJeremiah Trotter Jr., ClemsonTrevin Wallace, KentuckyNathaniel Watson, Mississippi StateMarlowe Wax, SyracusePayton Wilson, N.C. StateBy conference: Big Ten 12, SEC 11, ACC 6, Pac-12 6, Big 12 4, Independents 3, Conference USA 2, Mid-American 2, Mountain West 2, American Athletic 1, Sun Belt 1, FCS 1.
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.