2015 Butkus Award Watch List

The 2015 Butkus Award Watch List was released on Tuesday morning (LINK). There are two Michigan players on the list, along with some other notable players:

Joe Bolden - LB - Michigan
De'Vondre Campbell - LB - Minnesota
Su'a Cravens - LB - USC*
Kris Frost - LB - Auburn*
Darien Harris - LB - Michigan State
Jordan Jenkins - LB - Georgia*
Peter Kalambayi - LB - Stanford*
Raekwon McMillan - LB - Ohio State
Mason Monheim - LB - Illinois
Joshua Perry - LB - Ohio State
James Ross III - LB - Michigan
Anthony Sarao - LB - USC*
Jaylon Smith - LB - Notre Dame*
Jason Wittingham - LB - Utah

Bolden started 12 games last season for Michigan and made 102 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 pass breakup. Ross started 7 games last year and made 32 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. Both players are seniors.

*Offered by Michigan

2014 Butkus Award watch list

Jake Ryan

The 2014 Butkus Award watch list was revealed today. The award is given to the country's top linebacker each year. Handed out since 1985, the lone Wolverine to win the award was Erick Anderson in 1991. A number of notable players are on the list for Michigan fans' interests:

Trey DePriest - LB - Alabama*
Kris Frost - LB - Auburn*
Jarrett Grace - LB - Notre Dame
Curtis Grant - LB - Ohio State*
Jordan Hicks - LB - Texas*
Mike Hull - LB - Penn State
Jordan Jenkins - LB - Georgia*
A.J. Johnson - LB - Tennessee*
Taiwan Jones - LB - Michigan State
Mason Monheim - LB - Illinois
Jake Ryan - LB - Michigan
Jaylon Smith - LB - Notre Dame*

2013 High School Butkus Award Watch List

Michael Ferns

The 2013 High School Butkus Award Semi-Finalists were released, and there are a number of familiar names on the list. All of the following players have been offered by Michigan:

Kyle Berger - LB - Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius: Committed to Ohio State
Dante Booker - LB - Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary: Committed to Ohio State
Michael Ferns - LB - St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Committed to Michigan
Nyles Morgan - LB - Crete (IL) Monee: Undecided
Dwight Williams - LB - Junipero (CA) Gardena Serra: Undecided

2013 Butkus Award watch list

The Butkus Award watch list for 2013 was released on Monday, and there are several players of note to Michigan fans:

Chris Borland - Wisconsin
Jonathan Brown - Illinois
Max Bullough - Michigan State
Carlo Calabrese - Notre Dame
Glenn Carson - Penn State
Dan Fox - Notre Dame
Anthony Hitchens - Iowa
Christian Kirksey - Iowa
James Morris - Iowa
Ryan Shazier - Ohio State
Prince Shembo - Notre Dame

There's also a Butkus Award given to high schoolers, and a watch list that includes 2014 commit Michael Ferns III, along with a bunch of other Michigan targets.