The numbers say Danny Stutsman is playing at a Butkus Award level
Danny Stutsman isn’t thinking about the Butkus Award.
The OU linebacker shut down any questions about the award this week, despite his impressive play through four games.
“I think as time goes on, it’s 0-0 every single week and every single opponent we face,” Stutsman said, deflecting a question Monday when asked about the award.
But regardless if Stutsman wants to talk about it or not, his play should garner national attention. He’s made a noticeable in leap in his second year as a starter in Brent Venables’ defense. That’s easy to see for anyone who has watched Oklahoma play this season. But the statistics also back it up.
Among the 51 Butkus Award watchlist linebackers, which were announced before the season, Stutsman ranks fourth in tackles with 43 and second in tackles for loss with eight. He ranks second in tackles among Power 5 linebackers, behind only N.C. State’s Payton Wilson, who has 46.
| Player | Total tackles | TFLs | Sacks |
| Tyrice Knight, UTEP | 66 (5 games) | 7.5 | 2.5 |
| Jason Henderson, Old Dominion | 60 | 8.5 | 1.5 |
| Payton Wilson, NC State | 46 | 2.5 | .5 |
| Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma | 43 | 8 | 2 |
| Aaron Casey, Indiana | 41 | 5 | 2 |
Stutsman is currently on pace to have 140 tackles and 26 tackles for loss in a 13-game schedule. That would be the most tackles in a season by an OU player since Curtis Bolton in 2018 with 157 and it would be a school record for tackles for loss in a season. The current record of 24 is held by Kelly Gregg in 1994. Stutsman would be the fourth OU linebacker to win the award, joining Teddy Lehman (2003), Rocky Calmus (2001) and Brian Bosworth (1985, 1986).
If Stutsman can keep the pace he’s at, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in the Butkus conversation come season’s end.
“I mean he’s been he’s playing like a Butkus winner right now. He’s literally playing like the best linebacker in college football,” Dasan McCullough said Saturday after the Cincinnati game. “He’s a great leader for our team. He gets everybody ready to play. I mean this is a dude that lives by that standard. So I mean I can’t do anything but be appreciative to him. Keep working with him. Get our linebackers corps better.”
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Last year’s winner, Iowa’s Jack Campbell, totaled 128 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions — numbers Stutsman has either already hit or is on pace to hit.
But numbers aren’t the only factor in the award. Stutsman statistically had a solid season a year ago, totaling 125 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. The award is given to the most “impactful” linebacker in the game. It’s voted on by primarily NFL and college coaches and media analysts.
So while Stutsman will have to continue to have great statistics to be in the Butkus conversation, maybe the most important thing is for OU to keep winning and for Stutsman to continue to help contribute to those wins, however that may look. And right now, while he appreciates the praise, he’s not focusing on the award.
“I want to be respected, I really love the guys,” Stutsman said. “I want to try for them every single day to be the same person and try to lead them. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them.”
