Butkus Award
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Butkus Award Winners

Year Winner School Position Height Weight Home Town
2025 Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech , Sr. LB 6-1 235 Wichita Falls, Texas
Finalists:
C.J. Allen, Georgia, LB
Aiden Fisher, Indiana, LB
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas, LB
Arvell Reese, Ohio State, LB
2024 Jalon Walker Georgia , Jr. LB 6-2 245 Salisbury, N.C.
Finalists:
Barrett Carter, Clemson, LB
Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss, LB
Carson Schwesinger, UCLA, LB
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma, LB
2023 Payton Wilson NC State , Gr. LB 6-4 238 Hillsborough, N.C.
Finalists:
Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri, LB
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, LB
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington, LB
Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State, LB
2022 Jack Campbell Iowa , Sr. LB 6-5 246 Cedar Fallas, Iowa
Finalists:
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia, LB
Daiyan Henley, Washington State, LB
Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati, LB
Drew Sanders, Arkansas, LB
2021 Nakobe Dean Georgia , Jr. LB 6-0 225 Horn Lake, Miss.
Finalists:
Darrian Beavers, Cincinnati, LB
Leo Chenal, Wisconsin, LB
Damone Clark, LSU, LB
Devin Lloyd, Utah, LB
Chad Muma, Wyoming, LB
2020 Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah Notre Dame , Sr. LB 6-2 215 Hampton, Va.
Finalists:
Nick Bolton, Missouri, LB
Zaven Collins, Tulsa, LB
Devin Lloyd, Utah, LB
Monty Rice, Georgia, LB
2019 Isaiah Simmons Clemson , Jr. LB 6-4 230 Olathe, Kan.
Finalists:
Zack Baun, Wisconsin, LB
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech, LB
Micah Parsons, Penn State, LB
Evan Weaver, California, LB
Logan Wilson, Wyoming, LB
2018 Devin White LSU , Jr. LB 6-1 240 Springhill, La.
Finalists:
Josh Allen, Kentucky, LB
Devin Bush, Michigan, LB
Tre Lamar, Clemson, LB
Dylan Moses, Alabama, LB
2017 Roquan Smith Georgia , Jr. LB 6-2 225 Montezuma, Ga.
Finalists:
Devin Bush, Michigan, LB
Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech, LB
T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin, LB
Dorian O'Daniel, Clemson, LB
2016 Reuben Foster Alabama , Sr. LB 6-1 228 Auburn, Ala.
Finalists:
Kendall Beckwith, LSU, LB
Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt, LB
Jarrad Davis, Florida, LB
Josey Jewell, Iowa, LB
2015 Jaylon Smith Notre Dame , Jr. LB 6-2 240 Fort Wayne, Ind.
Finalists:
Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB
Deion Jones, LSU, LB
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, LB
Reggie Ragland, Alabama, LB
2014 Eric Kendricks UCLA , Sr. LB 6-0 225 Fresno, Calif.
Finalists:
Hau'oli Kikaha, Washington, LB
Denzel Perryman, Miami, LB
Jake Ryan, Michigan, LB
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame, LB
2013 C.J. Mosley Alabama , Sr. LB 6-2 232 Mobile, Ala.
Finalists:
Anthony Barr, UCLA, LB
Khalil Mack, Buffalo, LB
Ryan Shazier, Ohio State, LB
Shayne Skov, Stanford, LB
2012 Manti Te'o Notre Dame , Sr. LB 6-2 255 Laie, Hawaii
Finalists:
Jarvis Jones, Georgia, LB
Dion Jordan, Oregon, LB
Kevin Minter, LSU, LB
C.J. Mosley, Alabama, LB
2011 Luke Kuechly Boston College , Jr. LB 6-3 237 Cincinnati, Ohio
Finalists:
Lavonte David, Nebraska, LB
Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, LB
Jarvis Jones, Georgia, LB
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, LB
Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, LB
2010 Von Miller Texas A&M , Sr. LB 6-3 243 DeSoto, Texas
Finalists:
Akeem Ayers, UCLA, LB
Bruce Carter, North Carolina, LB
Justin Houston, Georgia, LB
Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
2009 Rolando McClain Alabama , Jr. LB 6-4 258 Decatur, Ga.
Finalists:
Sergio Kindle, Texas, LB
Eric Norwood, South Carolina, LB
Brandon Spikes, Florida, LB
Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, LB
2008 Aaron Curry Wake Forest , Sr. LB 6-3 247 Fayetteville, N.C.
Finalists:
Darry Beckwith, LSU, Sr., LB, 6-1, 232, Baton Rouge, La.
Rennie Curran, Georgia, So., LB, 5-11, 228, Snellville, Ga.
Brian Cushing, USC, Sr., LB, 6-3, 255, Park Ridge, N.J.
Mark Herzlich, Boston College, Jr., LB, 6-4, 238, Wayne, Pa.
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, Sr., LB, 6-3, 240, Hamel, Minn.
Rey Maualuga, USC, Sr., LB, 6-2, 260, Eureka, Calif.
Rolando McClain, Alabama, So., LB, 6-4, 239, Decatur, Ga.
Perry Riley, LSU, Jr., LB, 6-1, 240, Ellenwood, Ga.
Clint Sintim, Virginia, Jr., LB, 6-1, 240, Ellenwood, Ga.
Brandon Spikes, Florida, Jr., LB, 6-3, 245, Shelby, N.C.
Sean Witherspoon, Missouri, Jr., LB, 6-1, 235, Jasper, Texas
2007 James Laurinaitis Ohio State , Jr. LB 6-3 240 Hamel, Minn.
Finalists:
Dan Connor, Penn State, LB
Jordon Dizon, Colorado, LB
2006 Patrick Willis Ole Miss , Sr. LB 6-2 240 Bruceton, Tenn.
Finalists:
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, LB
Paul Posluszny, Penn State, LB
2005 Paul Posluszny Penn State , Jr. LB 6-2 220 Aliquippa, Pa.
Finalists:
A.J. Hawk, Ohio State, LB
DeMeco Ryans, Alabama, LB
2004 Derrick Johnson Texas , Sr. LB 6-4 230 Waco, Texas
Finalists:
Ahmad Brooks, Virginia, LB
Matt Grootegoed, USC, LB
2003 Teddy Lehman Oklahoma , Sr. LB 6-2 243 Fort Gibson, Okla.
Finalists:
Derrick Johnson, Texas, LB
Jonathan Vilma, Miami, LB
2002 E.J. Henderson Maryland , Sr. LB 6-2 250 Aberdeen, Md.
Finalists:
Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma, LB
Courtney Watson, Notre Dame, LB
2001 Rocky Calmus Oklahoma , Jr. LB 6-3 235 Jenks, Okla.
Finalists:
Ryan Nece, UCLA, LB
Robert Thomas, UCLA, LB
2000 Dan Morgan Miami , Sr. LB 6-3 243 Coral Springs, Fla.
Finalists:
Keith Adams, Clemson, LB
Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma, LB
1999 LaVar Arrington Penn State , Jr. LB 6-3 226 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Finalists:
Brandon Short, Penn State, LB
Mark Simoneau, Kansas State, LB
Raynoch Thompson, Tennessee, LB
1998 Chris Claiborne USC , Jr. LB 6-3 250 Riverside, Calif.
Finalists:
Jevon Kearse, Florida, LB
Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M, LB
1997 Andy Katzenmoyer Ohio State , So. LB 6-4 260 Westerville, Ohio
Finalists:
Sam Cowert, Florida State, LB
Kivuusama Mays, North Carolina, LB
1996 Matt Russell Colorado , Sr. LB 6-2 245 Fairview Heights, Ill.
Finalists:
Canute Curtis, West Virginia, LB
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, LB
1995 Kevin Hardy Illinois , Sr. LB 6-4 240 Evansville, Ind.
Finalists:
Ray Lewis, Miami, LB
Zach Thomas, Texas Tech, LB
1994 Dana Howard Illinois , Sr. LB 6-0 236 East St. Louis, Ill.
Finalists:
Ted Johnson, Colorado, LB
Ed Stewart, Nebraska, LB
1993 Trev Alberts Nebraska , Sr. LB 6-4 240 Cedar Falls, Iowa
Finalists:
Derrick Brooks, Florida State, LB
Jamir Miller, UCLA, LB
1992 Marvin Jones Florida State , Jr. LB 6-2 230 Miami, Fla.
Finalists:
Michael Barrow, Miami, LB
David Hoffman, Washington, LB
1991 Erick Anderson Michigan , Sr. LB 6-1 234 Glenview, Ill.
Finalists:
Marco Coleman, Georgia Tech, LB
Robert Jones, East Carolina, LB
1990 Alfred Williams Colorado , Sr. LB 6-6 240 Houston, Texas
Finalists:
Darrick Brownlow, Illinois, LB
Maurice Crum, Miami, LB
Levon Kirland, Clemson, LB
Michael Stonebreaker, Notre Dame, LB
1989 Percy Snow Michigan State , Sr. LB 6-3 240 Canton, Ohio
Finalists:
Andre Collins, Penn State, LB
Ron Cox, Fresno State, LB
James Francis, Baylor, LB
Keith McCants, Alabama, LB
1988 Derrick Thomas, Alabama , Sr. LB 6-3 230 Miami, Fla.
Finalists:
Keith DeLong, Tennessee, LB
Percy Snow, Michigan State, LB
Michael Stonebreaker, Notre Dame, LB
Broderick Thomas, Nebraska, LB
1987 Paul McGowan Florida State , Sr. LB 6-1 224 Winter Park, Fla.
Finalists:
Zeke Gadson, Pittsburgh, LB
Dante Jones, Oklahoma, LB
Ken Norton, UCLA, LB
Bill Romanowski, Boston College, LB
Chris Spielman, Ohio State, LB
Van Waiters, Indiana, LB
1986 Brian Bosworth Oklahoma , Jr. LB 6-2 238 Irving, Texas
Finalists:
Cornelius Bennett, Alabama, LB
Shane Conlan, Penn State, LB
Byron Evans, Arizona, LB
Chris Spielman, Ohio State, LB
1985 Brian Bosworth Oklahoma , So. LB 6-2 238 Irving, Texas
Finalists:
Michael Brooks, LSU, LB
Alonzo Johnson, Florida, LB
Mike Mallory, Michigan, LB
Larry Station, Iowa, LB

Award Info

Official Sites

Butkus Award
2025 Key Dates
Watch List: Wed., Jul 30
Semifinalists: Tue., Nov 4
Finalists: Tue., Nov 25
Winner: Mon., Dec 1

Award Presentation: Mon., Dec 1
WInner's Campus
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