Collegiate Butkus Award

High School Butkus Award

Professional: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

Collegiate: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame (now Dallas Cowboys)

High School: Caleb Kelly, Clovis West, Calif. (now Oklahoma)

www.NCFAA.org

CHICAGO – The 32nd annual Butkus Award® honoring the nation's best linebackers kicked off its 2016 selection process today by announcing its collegiate and high school pre-season watch lists. North Dakota State seniorwas the only nominee from the Football Championship Subdivision.Mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey of the award's namesake Dick Butkus whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in football history, each watch list features 51 players who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot. Appearance on the watch list is not required to become a semi-finalist.Thewatch list includes candidates from 44 universities. It includes one returning finalist, Raekwon McMillan of Ohio State, who won the 2013 national high school Butkus Award.Thewatch list includes candidates from 17 states, with Florida (8), Georgia (7), Texas (6), Alabama (5) and California (5) producing the most candidates.Semi-finalists will be named October 31, finalists November 21, and winners will be notified on or before December 6. The Pro Butkus Award winner will be announced in early 2017.The 2015 Butkus Award winners:Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus' I Play Clean™ initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs. More information is available at www.iplayclean.org The Butkus Award, www.thebutkusaward.com and on Facebook at 51.butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which includes the 22 most prestigious awards in college football with 722 years of selection excellence. Visitfor more information.Ryan Anderson, University of AlabamaKendall Beckwith, Louisiana State UniversityVince Biegel, University of WisconsinDante Booker, The Ohio State UniversityBen Boulware, Clemson UniversityTyus Bowser, University of HoustonRichie Brown, Mississippi State UniversityRiley Bullough, Michigan State UniversityJason Cabinda, Penn State UniversityJeff Camilli, Fresno State UniversityLorenzo Carter, University of GeorgiaJermaine Carter, University of MarylandZach Cunningham, Vanderbilt UniversityKevin Davis, Colorado State UniversityJarrad Davis, University of FloridaNick DeLuca, North Dakota State UniversityBrooks Ellis, University of ArkansasJordan Evans, University of OklahomaDevonte' Fields, University of LouisvilleSalamo Fiso, Arizona State UniversityReuben Foster, University of AlabamaT.J. Holloman, University of South CarolinaTravin Howard, Texas Christian UniversityShane Huber, University of MassachusettsMalik Jefferson, University of TexasJosey Jewell, University of IowaPeter Kalambayi, Stanford UniversityHarvey Kangi, Brigham Young UniversityKeith Kelsey, University of LouisvilleMicah Kiser, University of VirginiaElijah Lee, Kansas State UniversityRaekwon McMillan, The Ohio State UniversityMatt Milano, Boston CollegeCharmeachealle Moore, Kansas State UniversityNyles Morgan, University of Notre DameCalvin Munson, San Diego State UniversityHardy Nickerson, University of IllinoisJalen Reeves-Maybin, University of TennesseeT.J. Ricks, Old Dominion UniversityAuggie Sanchez, University of South FloridaMichael Scherer, University of MissouriCameron Smith, University of Southern CaliforniaSteven Taylor, University of HoustonAustin Valdez, Bowling Green UniversityTanner Vallejo, Boise State UniversityAzeem Victor, University of WashingtonAnthony Walker, Northwestern UniversityNyeem Warman-White, Penn State UniversityTim Williams, University of AlabamaEric Wilson, University of CincinnatiTaylor Young, Baylor University