BUTKUS AWARD® 41st SEASON WATCH LIST ANNOUNCED
Takes Heart™ partnership with Carle Illinois College of Medicine to debut on BTN broadcast
CHICAGO — (July 30, 2025) — The Butkus Foundation today released the preseason watch list for the 41st annual collegiate Butkus Award®, honoring the nation’s top linebacker. The 51-player list pays tribute to Dick Butkus’ iconic No. 51 jersey, worn during his Hall of Fame career as the most feared defender in football history.
The Foundation also announced its Takes Heart™ initiative with Carle Illinois College of Medicine will be featured in an August Big Ten Today broadcast, showcasing joint leadership from both organizations. The partnership advances life-saving cardiovascular screening for athletes, a cause Dick Butkus championed after a 2001 scan extended his life by 23 years.
Candidates for the 2025 Butkus Award represent 39 colleges and universities nationwide. The list includes returning standouts like Alabama’s Deontae Lawson and Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, alongside emerging talents such as Indiana’s Aiden Fisher and USC’s Eric Gentry. The watch list by conference includes: SEC (18), Big Ten (12), ACC (8), and Big 12 (9), with additional nominees from four other conferences.
Award semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and the winner revealed by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in early 2026, featured on a Big Ten Network special.
The 51-member selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists, evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Butkus’ career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
The 2024 Butkus Award winners include collegiate winner Jalon Walker of Georgia, selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft; high school winner Christian Jones of Omaha Westside, now at the University of Nebraska; and professional winner Zack Baun of the Philadelphia Eagles, who helped lead his team to a Super Bowl championship.
“These linebackers exemplify the standard my Dad set for the position,” said Matt Butkus. “With our Carle Illinois partnership, we’re ensuring his legacy continues to impact lives both on and off the field through heart health awareness.”
About the Butkus Award: Founded in 1985, the Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting the Butkus family’s causes, including cardiovascular health (Takes Heart™) and natural training (I Play Clean®).
2025 Butkus Award Watchlist
Deontae Lawson – Alabama                       Eric Gentry – USC
Justin Jefferson – Alabama                            Lander Barton – Utah
Keyshaun Elliott – Arizona State                 Caleb Woodson – Virginia Tech
Xavian Sorey – Arkansas                                Taariq Al-Uqdah – Washington
Keaton Thomas – Baylor                               Christian Alliegro – Wisconsin
Jack Kelly – BYU                                                 Isaiah Glasker – BYU
Jordan Kwiatkowski – Central Michigan  Wade Woodaz – Clemson
Sammy Brown – Clemson                            CJ Allen – Georgia
Chris Cole – Georgia                                       Aiden Fisher – Indiana
Austin Romaine – Kansas State                Alex Afari – Kentucky
Stanquan Clark – Louisville                         Harold Perkins – LSU
Whit Weeks – LSU                                             Daniel Wingate – Maryland
Wesley Bissainthe – Miami-Fla.                Jaishawn Barham – Michigan
Ernest Hausmann – Michigan                    TJ Dottery – Mississippi
Andrew Jones – Mississippi                       Jalen Smith – Mississippi State
Triston Newson – Missouri                          Andrew Simpson – North Carolina
Drayk Bowen – Notre Dame                        Jaylen Sneed – Notre Dame
Sonny Styles – Ohio State                         Arvell Reese – Ohio State
Kip Lewis – Oklahoma                                   Sammy Omosigho – Oklahoma
Bryan McCoy – Oklahoma State              Jason Henderson – Old Dominion
Devon Jackson – Oregon                            Bryce Boettcher – Oregon
Kyle Louis – Pittsburgh                                 Rasheem Biles – Pittsburgh
Mani Powell – Purdue                                   Kaleb Elarms-Orr – TCU
Arion Carter – Tennessee                           Anthony Hill – Texas
Liona Lefau – Texas                                        Taurean York – Texas A&M
Jacob Rodriguez – Texas Tech
