OU linebacker Danny Stutsman named a Butkus Award semifinalist
It has not been the season OU was hoping for, but that hasn’t slowed down senior linebacker Danny Stutsman.
Stutsman was named as one of 16 finalists for the Butkus Award on Monday afternoon, it was announced by the Butkus Foundation.
The Butkus Award is given to the nation’s best linebacker and is named in honor of legendary linebacker Dick Butkus.
Stutsman entered the season with massive expectations. And he continues to be the OU leader. He leads the team with 77 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and earning his first sack of the season last weekend.
Stutsman has had three double-digit tackling games this season, including a 16-tackle effort in the loss to South Carolina.
Stutsman has started all nine contests at middle linebacker and ranks third in the SEC and tied for 18th nationally with the team-high 77 total tackles. He also ranks fourth in the SEC and 32nd nationally by averaging 8.6 tackles per game. has led the Sooners in tackles six times this season, including those three double-digit efforts.
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Head coach Brent Venables has put a lot of Stutsman’s plate, in terms of being the leader both on and off the field. But when Venables says this team won’t flinch? A lot of that is because of the player-led guidance of guys like Stutsman.
He doesn’t regret coming back for his senior season. And he is still attempting to go out with a bang in this final month.
Butkus Award finalists will be named Nov. 25 and winners will be named by Dec. 10. A Butkus Award celebration is planned Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, where Dick Butkus established his legendary career.
Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4 SEC) plays at Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network. The Sooners are one win away from being bowl eligible and play Missouri for the first time since 2011.
