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    List of Butkus Award Winners

    Named after CFBHOF linebacker Dick Butkus, the Butkus Award honors the top LB in college football -- we've got all the winners listed by year.

    Named after College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, the Butkus Award is awarded annually to the top linebacker in college football. The award has been presented by the Butkus Foundation since 2008, after originally being established by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando in 1985.

    All Butkus Award winners, listed by year, can be found below.

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    Butkus Award Winners Listed by Year

    • 2024Jalon Walker, Georgia
    • 2023Payton Wilson, NC State
    • 2022Jack Campbell, Iowa
    • 2021 – Nakobe Dean, Georgia
    • 2020 – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
    • 2019 – Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
    • 2018 – Devin White, LSU
    • 2017 – Roquan Smith, Georgia
    • 2016 – Reuben Foster, Alabama
    • 2015 – Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
    • 2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA
    • 2013 – C.J. Mosley, Alabama
    • 2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
    • 2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
    • 2010 – Von Miller, Texas A&M
    • 2009 – Rolando McClain, Alabama
    • 2008 – Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
    • 2007 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
    • 2006 – Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
    • 2005 – Paul Posluszny, Penn State
    • 2004 – Derrick Johnson, Texas
    • 2003 – Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma
    • 2002 – E.J. Henderson, Maryland
    • 2001 – Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma
    • 2000 – Dan Morgan, Miami (FL)
    • 1999 – LaVar Arrington, Penn State
    • 1998 – Chris Claiborne, USC
    • 1997 – Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State
    • 1996 – Matt Russell, Colorado
    • 1995 – Kevin Hardy, Illinois
    • 1994 – Dana Howard, Illinois
    • 1993 – Trev Alberts, Nebraska
    • 1992 – Marvin Jones, Florida State
    • 1991 – Erick Anderson, Michigan
    • 1990 – Alfred Williams, Colorado
    • 1989 – Percy Snow, Michigan State
    • 1988 – Derrick Thomas, Alabama
    • 1987 – Paul McGowan, Florida State
    • 1986 – Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma
    • 1985 – Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma

    College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACCBig TenBig 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.

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