NC State in elite company with two linebackers on Butkus watch list
NCAA preseason awards season is drawing to a close ahead of fall camp but, before it does so, one prestigious award committee recognized two NC State athletes Monday. The top linebacker in America each season receives the Butkus Award, and both Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore are on the watch list going into the fall.
The Butkus Award recognizes 51 total athletes on its annual preseason watch list, and NC State was one of seven schools to receive multiple nominations. The two Wolfpack stars are headed into one of the most hyped seasons in program’s history as leaders in the middle of the defense. Both Moore and Thomas received All-ACC recognition last year after putting up impressive numbers. Thomas led the team in both tackles and interceptions.
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“Moore was an honorable mention All-ACC performer in 2021 despite suffered a season-ending knee injury at Miami,” NC State’s announcement said. “At the time, was the team leader in tackles for loss, and ranked second in total tackles. He was named team captain for the second season last year, and also chosen to wear the coveted No. 1 jersey.
“Last season, Thomas was named a first-team All-ACC performer on both the official league team and the AP squad. He also won first-team all-conference honors from PFF and Phil Steele, who also named him a fourth-team All-American. Thomas was the Pack’s leading tackler in 2021, ranking fourth in the ACC, and played 763 snaps for the season, the second-highest total on defense.”
Moore is fully recovered from his injury and ready to join his teammates on the field once again. He told The Wolfpacker at media day that he is excited to have the opportunity to compete once again.
“It’s a surreal feeling man,” Moore said. “All of the work that I put in to get my body to the way it is now, shout out to our training staff for putting me in position to get healthy and to be great. My support cast around me, my family, my brothers, my brothers on the team. They’ve been great man. I’m especially ready to be back with them.”
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The linebacker also said the Wolfpack is ready to try and take the NC State program to new heights this season— a lofty goal the group has held since they arrived on campus. Linebacker Payton Wilson, who is also returning from a season-ending injury, could have also easily appeared on this list after leading the conference in tackles two seasons ago.
Moore, Wilson and Thomas are all completely healthy and ready to make an impact this season. Thomas said the linebackers are focussed on helping each other consistently improve no matter the situation.
“There’s a competition between us three every time we step into the building every single day,” Thomas said at ACC Media Day. “Whether it’s workouts, practice, or game. It’s a race to the ball. We’re trying to make plays. We push each other to get better.
“We want the best for each other every single day in everything that we do, but it’s also a competition. That makes me so much better of a person and a player.”
