DeAndre Square on watch list for the Butkus Award

DeAndre Square is up for one of the most prestigious awards in college football. Kentucky’s senior inside linebacker is one of 51 players on the watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker since 1985.

Square is in his fifth and final season at Kentucky. The Detroit, Michigan native has played in 49 career games with 35 straight starting assignments. Thus far, Square has totaled 244 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery as a Wildcat. He’s been voted a team captain twice (2020 and 2021) and is on track to graduate in December with a degree in health promotion.

Last season, Square ranked third on the team in tackles (80), tackles for loss (9.5), and sacks (3.0). He also had three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, and an interception. One of his most impressive performances came in Kentucky’s win over Iowa in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. In the first half, Square went down with an ankle injury and didn’t return until halfway through the fourth quarter. Despite the injury, he finished the game with six stops, plus the game-clinching interception with 1:48 remaining – his first pickoff of the season and second of his career.

2022 Butkus Award Watch List

The watch list features 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary “51” pro jersey associated with the award’s namesake, Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history. The Butkus Award is focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.

• Darren Anders, Bowling Green
• Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
• Micah Baskerville, LSU
• Seth Benson, Iowa
• JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
• Tatum Bethune, Florida State
• Troy Brown, Ole Miss
• Ben Bywater, BYU
• Jack Campbell, Iowa
• Levani Damuni, Stanford
• KD Davis, North Texas
• Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
• Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
• Justin Flowe, Oregon
• Sherrod Greene, South Carolina
• Kyle Harmon, San Jose State
• Calvin Hart Jr., Illinois
• Daiyan Henley, Washington State
• Nick Jackson, Virginia
• Jestin Jacobs, Iowa
• Carl Jones Jr, UCLA
• Mikel Jones, Syracuse
• Tyrice Knight, UTEP
• Carlton Martial, Troy
• Ventrell Miller, Florida
• Jackson Mitchell, UConn
• Jaylen Moody, Alabama
• Isaiah Moore, N.C. State
• Darius Muasau, UCLA
• Donavan Mutin, Houston
• Anfernee Orji, Vanderbilt
• DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
• Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati
• Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
• Owen Pappoe, Auburn
• James Patterson, Buffalo
• Bumper Pool, Arkansas
• Luke Reimer, Nebraska
• Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
• Noah Sewell, Oregon
• Trenton Simpson, Clemson
• Isaac Slade-Matautia, SMU
• Mariano Sori-Marin, Minnesota
• DeAndre Square, Kentucky
• Drake Thomas, N.C. State
• Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
• David Ugwoegbu, Oklahoma
• Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
• Payton Wilgar, BYU
• Dorian Williams, Tulane
• Dee Winters, TCU

The award semifinalists are expected to be named Oct. 31 with finalists to follow Nov. 21. The winner will be named on his campus on or before Dec. 7. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. All 2022 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a televised event on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.