Alabama's Lawson, McKinstry named to Butkus, Thorpe watch lists
The Jim Thorpe Award and Butkus Award announced their preseason watch lists on Thursday, continuing two weeks of watch list reveals, and one Alabama player landed on each list.
Crimson Tide cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, a junior, was among the defensive backs on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. The Thorpe Award, created in 1986, is presented to the top defensive back in college football. The award is named for Jim Thorpe, who was an Olympic gold medalist in 1912 who also played professional football, baseball and basketball.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Deontae Lawson also landed on the watch list for the Butkus Award. Created in 1985, the Butkus Award is given annually to college football’s top linebacker and is named in honor of Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, widely regarded as one of the best linebackers of all time and a star at the University of Illinois and as a Chicago Bear.
McKinstry stepped into a full-time role as a starter in 2022 and was Alabama’s most consistent cornerback in a season where four different players logged first-team minutes. In addition to shutting down opposing receivers, he was also one of the nation’s top punt returners, finishing second in yards per return (15.86). He earned second-team All-American recognition as both a corner and return man. With several starters leaving the secondary, McKinstry will be called on to not only continue to play at an elite level but also lead the bevy of new guys.
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Lawson is a young player that played plenty of first-team reps throughout last year, splitting time with Jaylen Moody at the Will linebacker position. He appeared in 11 games and made four starts, including the Iron and Sugar Bowls with Moody dealing with a shoulder injury. He finished fifth on the team in tackles last year, which was a couple of spots ahead of Moody, and with both the latter and Henry To’oTo’o moving on to the next level, Lawson is now the most experienced returner at inside linebacker. Look for him to lead that group on and off the field.
Four Alabama players have won the Butkus Award – Derrick Thomas (1988), Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013) and Reuben Foster (2016). As for the Jim Thorpe Award, two former Crimson Tide players have won it – Antonio Langham (1993) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017).
Alabama players, coaches on preseason watch lists:
Lott IMPACT Trophy – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Malachi Moore
Dodd Trophy – Nick Saban
Maxwell Award – Jase McClellan
Patrick Mannelly Award – Kneeland Hibbett
Outland Trophy – Tyler Booker, JC Latham, Jaheim Oatis
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Malachi Moore, Dallas Turner
Lou Groza Award – Will Reichard
Wuerffel Trophy – Malachi Moore
John Mackey Award – CJ Dippre
Rimington Trophy – Seth McLaughlin
Butkus Award – Deontae Lawson
Jim Thorpe Award – Kool-Aid McKinstry
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