Top linebacker recruits named to Butkus Award semifinal watch list

On Tuesday, the Butkus Foundation named its semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award, given annually to some of the best high school and collegiate linebackers in the country. The list of college linebackers is a who’s who of former elite recruits, with the high school group made up of the next generation of college stars.

Former winners of the high school award include Oregon linebacker and former Five-Star Plus+ recruit Justin Flowe, ex-Georgia star and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean and former Alabama star Dylan Moses.

The Butkus Award was founded in 1985, honoring linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. The Butkus Foundation has presented high school and professional awards since 2008. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the award selection process.

Dick Butkus Award High School Semifinalists

4-star LB CJ Allen
Status: Committed to Georgia
School: Barnesville (Ga.) Lamar County Comprehensive
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 114

4-star LB Jamal Anderson
Status: Committed to Clemson
School: Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 211

4-star LB Jaiden Ausberry
Status: Committed to Notre Dame
School: Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 159

4-star LB Drayk Bowen
Status: Committed to Notre Dame
School: Merrilville (Ind.) Andrean
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 88

4-star LB Troy Bowles
Status: Committed to Georgia
School: Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 77

4-star LB Malik Bryant
Status: Committed to Miami
School: Orlando (Fla.) Jones
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 68

4-star LB Lewis Carter
Status: Committed to Oklahoma
School: Tampa (Fla.) Catholic
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 197

4-star LB Tackett Curtis
Status: Committed to USC
School: Many (La.)
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 112

4-star LB Grant Godfrey
Status: Committed to Kentucky
School: Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 303

4-star EDGE Derion Gullette
Status: Committed to Texas
School: Marlin (Texas) Teague
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 119

5-star LB Anthony Hill
Status: Committed to Texas A&M
School: Denton (Texas) Ryan
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 18

3-star LB Ben Kueter
Status: Committed to Iowa
School: Iowa City (Iowa)
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 419

4-star LB Suntarine Perkins
Status: Committed to Ole Miss
School: Raleigh (Miss.)
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 64

4-star LB Arvell Reese
Status: Committed to Ohio State
School: Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 193

4-star LB Raylen Wilson
Status: Committed to Georgia
School: Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 51