Who are the early favorites to win college football’s 2017 Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
It’s hard to believe that we are less than two months away from the best time of the year: college football season. It’s been a long offseason filled with speculation, transfers and new head coaches, but it’s almost time to put everyone to test on the gridiron.
On Monday, the Butkus Award gave us another reason to be excited, revealing its 2017 preseason watch list. The award is given annually to the nation’s top linebacker and there are plenty of top options to choose from this year.
Who are the early favorites?
In my opinion, the names to keep an eye on are Jerome Baker of Ohio State, Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter, Wisconsin’s Jack Cichy and T.J. Edwards, USC’s Porter Gustin and Cameron Smith, Alabama’s Shaun Dion Hamilton, Louisville’s James Hearns, Texas’ Malik Jefferson, Iowa’s Josey Jewell, LSU’s Arden Key, Virginia’s Micah Kiser, Michigan’s Mike McCray, Notre Dame’s Nyles Morgan, Miami’s Shaquille Quarterman and Indiana’s Tegray Scales.
My favorite to win the award, however, is South Carolina’s Skai Moore. He missed the entire 2016 season with an injury, but he posted monster numbers in 2015. He will be back and better than before.
Last year’s winner was Alabama’s Reuben Foster, which was really no surprise. He went on to get selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
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The award has been around since 1985 and has yielded some big-time names as winners. Brian Bosworth, Derrick Johnson, Paul Posluszny, Patrick Willis, James Laurinaitis, Rolando McClain, Von Miller, Luke Kuechly, Manti Te’o and Jaylon Smith are all previous winners.