No one should be surprised when an Alabama linebacker — or more than one — is considered for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker. This year three Crimson Tide players are on the preseason watch list for the honor, named (and presented) in honor of all-time great Dick Butkus.

This year three current Bama linebackers were previously announced as on the preseason list. They are Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis, and Dylan Moses.

Four Alabama linebackers have previously won the award — Derrick Thomas (1988), Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013), and Reuben Foster (2016).

The award has been given on the college level since 1985. But there’s more.

Beginning in 2008, presentation has also been made to both high school and professional selections.

There are four men who have committed to Alabama who are on this year’s 2019 preseason list for the high school award. They are:

• Jackson Bratton, 6-3, 225, Muscle Shoals, a four-star

• Demouy Kennedy, 6-3, 205, Theodore, a four-star

• Quandarrius Robinson, 6-5, 217, Birmingham Jackson-Olin, a five-star

• Drew Sanders, 6-5, 232, Denton (Texas) Ryan, a five-star

Alabama’s Moses was winner of the high school Butkus Award in 2016.

Bratton was a 6A all-state linebacker as a junior and is also an outstanding baseball pitcher and third baseman.

Kennedy, a first team 7A selection in 2018, had 100 tackles, 12 sacks, and 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns as a junior.

Robinson, who previously was committed to Auburn, is projected as an outside linebacker.

Sanders, who previously was committed to Oklahoma, has played numerous positions on both offense and defense. He also ran track in the spring.

Drew Sanders is one of the nation’s top prospects

Semifinalists will be announced November 4, finalists November 25, and the winner December 10.

Some others on the Butkus nominees list may be considered by and/or considering Alabama.

The 2019 list, alphabetically:

• Sergio Allen, Peach County HS - Fort Valley, GA

• Tirek Austin-Cave, Camden HS - Camden, NJ

• Jordan Banks, Narbonne HS - Harbor City, CA

• Tyler Berrong, Atlantic Coast HS - Jacksonville, FL

• Jordan Botelho, Saint Louis School - Honolulu, HI

• Jackson Bratton, Muscle Shoals HS - Muscle Shoals, AL

• Itayvion Brown, Lutheran North HS - St. Louis, MO

• Carson Bruener, Redmond HS - Redmond, WA

• Lanell Carr, De Smet HS - St. Louis, MO

• Prince Dorbah, Highland Park HS - Dallas, TX

• Antonio Doyle, Lutheran North HS - St. Louis, MO

• Bryson Eason, Whitehaven HS - Memphis, TN

• Justin Flowe, Upland HS - Upland,CA

• Martavius French, Whitehaven HS - Memphis, TN

• Jaylen Harrell, Berkeley Prep - Tampa, FL

• Nick Herbig, Saint Louis School - Honolulu, HI

• Nikhai Hill-Green, St. Frances Academy - Baltimore, MD

• Justin Houston, Junipero Serra - Gardena, CA

• Curtis Jacobs, McDonogh School - Owings Mills, MD

• Kaden Johnson, Minnehaha Academy - Minneapolis, MN

• Demouy Kennedy, Theodore HS - Theodore, AL

• Jaylon McCluster, Largo HS - Largo, FL

• Mitchell Melton, Good Counsel - Olney, MD

• Kalel Mullings, Milton Academy - Milton, MA

• B.J. Ojulari, Marietta HS - Marietta, GA

• Cole Pedersen, Central Decatur HS - Leon, IA

• Malik Reed, Chandler HS - Chandler, AZ

• Cameron Riley, Hillcrest HS - Evergreen, AL

• Quandarrius Robinson, Jackson-Olin HS - Birmingham, AL

• Antoine Sampah, Woodbridge HS - Woodbridge, VA

• Drew Sanders, Ryan HS - Denton, TX

• Osman Savage, St. Frances Academy - Baltimore, MD

• Brennon Scott, Bishop Dunne HS - Dallas, TX

• Damian Sellers, Saguaro HS - Scottsdale, AZ

• Noah Sewell, Orem HS - Orem, UT

• Mekhail Sherman, St. John's College HS - Washington DC

• Cody Simon, Saint Peter's Prep - Jersey City, NJ

• Trenton Simpson, Mallard Creek HS - Charlotte, NC

• Sav'ell Smalls, Kennedy Catholic - Burien, WA

• Korey Smith, The Peddie School - Highstown, NJ

• Wesley Steiner, Houston County HS - Warner Robins,GA

• Kevin Swint, Carrollton HS - Carrollton, GA

• Jaheim Thomas, Princeton HS - Cincinnati, OH

• Bryden Walker, Bishop McGuiness - Oklahoma City, OK

• Phillip Webb, Lanier HS - Buford, GA

• Ethan West, Cosby HS - Midlothian, VA

• Cornell Wheeler, West Bloomfield HS - West Bloomfield, MI

• Josh White, Cypress Creek HS - Houston, TX

• Len'Neth Whitehead, Athens Academy - Athens, GA

• Kourt Williams II, St. John Bosco HS - Bellflower, CA

• Derek Wingo, St. Thomas Aquinas - Fort Lauderdale, FL