| Butkus Award | |
| Description: | Given to the best linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football |
| Presenter: | Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (1985–2007) Butkus Foundation (2008–present) |
| Country: | United States |
| Year: | 1985 |
| Website: | http://www.thebutkusaward.com/ |
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football. The award, named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports a number of health and wellness activities including the "I Play Clean" anti-steroid program. The award was first established by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, which relinquished control of the award in 2008 following a lawsuit by Butkus.[1]
Traditionally, the award was given only to the top collegiate linebacker. The Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners[2] as part of a makeover by the Butkus family to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes. Three players have won both the high school and collegiate Butkus Awards: Notre Dame linebackers Manti Te'o (2008, 2012) and Jaylon Smith (2012, 2015) and also Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean (2018, 2021). Four players have won both the collegiate and professional Butkus Awards: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (2006, 2009), Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (2010, 2012), Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017), and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (2017, 2022, 2023).
| Year | Player | School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Oklahoma | ||
| 1986 | Oklahoma (2) | ||
| 1987 | Florida State | ||
| 1988 | Alabama | ||
| 1989 | Michigan State | ||
| 1990 | Colorado | ||
| 1991 | Michigan | ||
| 1992 | Florida State (2) | ||
| 1993 | Nebraska | ||
| 1994 | Illinois | ||
| 1995 | Illinois (2) | ||
| 1996 | Colorado (2) | ||
| 1997 | Ohio State | ||
| 1998 | USC | ||
| 1999 | Penn State | ||
| 2000 | Miami | ||
| 2001 | Oklahoma (3) | ||
| 2002 | Maryland | ||
| 2003 | Oklahoma (4) | ||
| 2004 | Texas | ||
| 2005 | Penn State (2) | ||
| 2006 | Ole Miss | ||
| 2007 | Ohio State (2) | ||
| 2008 | Wake Forest | ||
| 2009 | Alabama (2) | ||
| 2010 | Texas A&M | ||
| 2011 | Boston College | ||
| 2012 | Notre Dame | ||
| 2013 | Alabama (3) | ||
| 2014 | UCLA | ||
| 2015 | Jaylon Smith[3] | Notre Dame (2) | |
| 2016 | Reuben Foster[4] | Alabama (4) | |
| 2017 | Georgia | ||
| 2018 | LSU | ||
| 2019 | Isaiah Simmons[5] | Clemson | |
| 2020 | Notre Dame (3) | ||
| 2021 | Georgia (2) | ||
| 2022 | Iowa | ||
| 2023 | NC State |
| Year | Player | School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Punahou School (Honolulu, HI) | ||
| 2009 | Lakota West High School (West Chester, OH) | ||
| 2010 | Pedro Menendez High School (St. Augustine, FL) | ||
| 2011 | Leesburg High School (Leesburg, FL) | ||
| 2012 | Bishop Luers High School (Fort Wayne, IN) | ||
| 2013 | Liberty County High School (Hinesville, GA) | ||
| 2014 | Ralph H. Poteet High School (Mesquite, TX) | ||
| 2015 | Clovis West High School (Fresno, CA) | ||
| 2016 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | ||
| 2017 | Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, CA) | ||
| 2018 | Horn Lake High School (Horn Lake, MS) | ||
| 2019 | Upland High School (Upland, CA) | ||
| 2020 | David Crockett High School (Jonesborough, TN) | ||
| 2021 | Shawn Murphy[11] | Unity Reed High School (Manassas, VA) | |
| 2022 | Drayk Bowen | Andrean High School (Merrillville, IN) | |
| 2023 | Jefferson High School (Jefferson, GA) |