COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – It was announced today that three Mountain West football players are among 51 student-athletes on the preseason nominee list for the 2024 Butkus Award, which honors the best college linebacker.
Boise State Junior Andrew SimpsonSenior at UNLV MichaelJackson and Wyoming graduate Shae Suiaunoa represent the Mountain West on the watch list.
The three MW players on the watch list are fifth in the FBS, with only the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 being better.
The 51 linebackers on the watch list are a nod to the famous “51” professional jersey won by the award’s namesake, the late Dick Butkus, whose dogged leadership from the middle linebacker position earned him acclaim from NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history.
The award’s semifinalists are expected to be announced on November 4, the finalists on November 25 and the winner by December 10. A spot on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and professional levels will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium.
The 51-member Butkus Award selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists, guides the selection process, emphasizing the qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, leadership on the field, competitiveness, football character and linebacker skills. The award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play without the ball while standing in a traditional two-point stance.
About the Butkus Award: Established in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers on three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include the Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative, which encourages early cardiovascular screenings for adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative, which encourages athletes to train naturally and without performance-enhancing drugs. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process. The Butkus Foundation has been presenting the high school and professional awards since 2008. This is the 40th year the college award has been presented.
Butkus Award Watch List (MW Representative)
Andrew Simpson, Jr., Boise State
Jackson Woodard, Sr., UNLV
Shae Suiaunoa, Gr., Wyoming
