EVANSTON, Ill. — Another day, another watch list for Northwestern junior linebacker Anthony Walker, Jr.
Walker was named to the watch list for the 32nd annual Butkus Award Tuesday morning, awarded to the nation's top linebacker. The announcement comes a week after Walker was named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award.
The Miami, Florida, native was among 51 players named to the list, including nine from the Big Ten. Walker was a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 after leading the Wildcats with 122 tackles and ranking fourth in the country with 20.5 tackles for loss. He also earned All-America honors from Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press.
Instituted in 1985, the Butkus Award is one of the elite individual honors in college football. In 2008, The Butkus Foundation took stewardship of the award to fully realize the original purpose of honoring athletic achievement and service to the community while honoring the nation's best high school, college and professional linebackers. An independent Butkus Award Selection Committee comprised of 51 experts, including professional, college and high school scouts, and prominent sports journalists, conduct the selection process.
The semifinalist for the award will be announced by October 31, finalists by November 21 and select winner on or before December 6.
Walker was named to the watch list for the 32nd annual Butkus Award Tuesday morning, awarded to the nation's top linebacker. The announcement comes a week after Walker was named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award.
The Miami, Florida, native was among 51 players named to the list, including nine from the Big Ten. Walker was a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 after leading the Wildcats with 122 tackles and ranking fourth in the country with 20.5 tackles for loss. He also earned All-America honors from Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press.
Everybody has their ?? on @__AWalkJr. #B1GCats LB named to #ButkusAward Watch List. ???? pic.twitter.com/pIdJVjay8Q
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) July 12, 2016
Instituted in 1985, the Butkus Award is one of the elite individual honors in college football. In 2008, The Butkus Foundation took stewardship of the award to fully realize the original purpose of honoring athletic achievement and service to the community while honoring the nation's best high school, college and professional linebackers. An independent Butkus Award Selection Committee comprised of 51 experts, including professional, college and high school scouts, and prominent sports journalists, conduct the selection process.
The semifinalist for the award will be announced by October 31, finalists by November 21 and select winner on or before December 6.