BUTKUS AWARD 37th SEASON WATCH LISTS ANNOUNCED: Search begins today for Nation's Top Linebacker; Celebration Event Planned Feb. 5, 2022 at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage

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*CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2021 / *The Butkus Award® honoring the nation's best linebackers kicked off its 37th annual selection process today by announcing its collegiate and high school preseason watch lists.

Each watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with the Award's namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.

The Collegiate Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 51 universities, including returning finalist Devin Lloyd of Utah and five returning semi-finalists.

The High School Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 51 secondary schools across 26 states, with Texas (6), Georgia (5) and Florida (4) fielding the most candidates.

Semi-finalists are expected to be named Nov. 1, finalists Nov. 22, and winners on or before Dec. 7. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.

The 2020 Butkus Award winners:

· Collegiate: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame (now Cleveland Browns)
· High School: Prince Kollie, David Crockett, Jonesborough, Tenn. (now Notre Dame)

Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs.

The Butkus Award is partnering with Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage to celebrate Butkus Award winners. The event is scheduled Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Contact the Butkus Foundation for ticket and sponsorship information.

The Butkus Award® is presented by the Butkus Foundation and selected by a 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists. The award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.

*2021 COLLEGIATE WATCH LIST*

  *2021 HIGH SCHOOL WATCH LIST*

*ATHLETE*

*UNIVERSITY*

  *ATHLETE*

*HIGH SCHOOL*

*CITY*

*STATE*

Christopher Allen Alabama   T.J. Dudley Montgomery Catholic Montgomery AL
Will Anderson Alabama   Robert Woodyard Lillie B. Williamson Mobile AL
Christian Harris Alabama*   Tristan Monday Saguaro Scottsdale AZ
Merlin Robertson Arizona State   David Bailey Mater Dei Santa Ana CA
Grant Morgan Arkansas*   Niuafe Tuihalamaka Bishop Alemany Mission Hills CA
Bumper Pool Arkansas   Edwin Kolenge Loomis Chaffee Windsor CT
Zakoby McClain Auburn   Wesley Bissainthe Miami Central Miami FL
Terrel Bernard Baylor   Melvin Jordan Calvary Christian Clearwater FL
James Patterson Buffalo   Travious Lathan Gulliver Prep Pinecrest FL
Payton Wilgar BYU   DeMario Tolan Dr. Phillips Orlando FL
James Skalski Clemson   Daniel Martin Marietta Marietta GA
Baylon Spector Clemson   Aubrey Smith Buford Buford GA
Nate Landman Colorado*   C.J. Washington Cedartown Cedartown GA
Ventrell Miller Florida   Donovan Westmoreland Griffin Griffin GA
Amari Gainer Florida State   Jaron Willis Lee County Leesburg GA
Adam Anderson Georgia   Tevarua Tafiti Punahou Honolulu HI
Nakobe Dean Georgia*   Jared Badie Oswego East Oswego IL
Quay Walker Georgia   Sebastian Cheeks Evanston Township Evanston IL
Jake Hansen Illinois   Dasan McCullough Bloomington South Bloomington IN
Micah McFadden Indiana   Javae Gilmore Amite Amite City LA
Mike Rose Iowa State   Tyler Martin Buckingham Browne & Nichols Cambridge MA
Damone Clark LSU   Jaishawn Barham St. Frances Academcy Baltimore MD
Lakia Henry Mississippi   Joshua Burnham Traverse City Central Traverse City MI
Sam Williams Mississippi   Michael Williams West Bloomfield West Bloomfield MI
Blaze Alldredge Missouri   Nolan Ziegler Catholic Central Grand Rapids MI
Jeremiah Gemmel North Carolina   Stone Blanton Madison-Ridgeland Academy Madison MS
Payton Wilson North Carolina State   Xavier Simmons Northwest Guilford Greensboro NC
Jackson Hankey North Dakota State   Jalon Walker Salisbury Salisbury NC
Chris Bergin Northwestern   Torren Wright A L Brown Kannapolis NC
Brian Asamoah Oklahoma   Devon Jackson Harry A. Burke Omaha NE
Nik Bonnito Oklahoma   Zion Cheeks Penns Grove Carneys Point NJ
Malcolm Rodriguez Oklahoma State   Nyair Graham Camden Camden NJ
Noah Sewell Oregon   C.J. Hicks Archbishop Alter Dayton OH
Avery Roberts Oregon State   Gabe Powers Marysville Marysville OH
Jesse Luketa Penn State   Emar'rion Winston Central Catholic Portland OR
Brandon Smith Penn State   Malaki Hamrick Perry Traditional Academy Pittsburgh PA
Olakunle Fatukasi Rutgers*   Anthony Johnson Neumann-Goretti Philadelphia PA
Jordan Strachan South Carolina   Keon Wylie Imotech Institute Philadelphia PA
Mikel Jones Syracuse   Jaylen Sneed Hilton Head Hilton Head SC
Demarvion Overshown Texas   Langston Patterson Christ Presbyterian Academy Nashville TN
Aaron Hansford Texas A&M   Keaten Wade Summit Spring Hill TN
Colin Schooler Texas Tech   Martrell Harris Jr The Woodlands The Woodlands TX
Carlton Martial Troy   Ty Kana Katy Katy TX
Drake Jackson USC   Kip Lewis Carthage Carthage TX
Devin Lloyd Utah**   Kobie McKinzie Lubbock Cooper Lubbock TX
Anfernee Orji Vanderbilt   Justin Medlock Manvel Manvel TX
Nick Jackson Virginia   Harold Perkins Cypress Park Cypress TX
Zion Tupuola-Fetui Washington   Lander Barton Brighton Cottonwood Heights UT
Edefuan Ulofoshio Washington   Harrison Taggart Corner Canyon Draper UT
Jack Sanborn Wisconsin   Shawn Murphy Unity Reed Manassas VA
Chad Muma Wyoming   Dishawn Misa Eastside Catholic Sammamish WA
Note: * Returning semi-finalist, ** returning finalist            

List, selectors and selection criteria published online at www.thebutkusaward.com.

*CONTACT:*

Ron Arp 
rarp@butkusfoundation.org

*SOURCE: *Butkus Foundation
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