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Oregon's Noah Sewell tabbed by On3 as Butkus Award favorite

Jarrid Denneyby:Jarrid Denney•05/24/22•

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Cameron Parker/ScoopDuck

The preseason accolades are beginning to roll in for Oregon star Noah Sewell.

Sewell, a third-year sophomore linebacker and the lynchpin of the Ducks’ defense, is preparing for what could be one of the greatest seasons by an Oregon player in recent memory.

In 2021, Sewell was a first-team all-conference selection while racking up a team-high 106 tackles. He was also second among Oregon players with 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He is the program’s top 2023 NFL Draft prospect, and many scouts and analysts believe he could be the best inside linebacker in the draft.

He also could be the best linebacker in college football next season, full-stop.

On Tuesday, On3’s Mike Huguenin released his predictions for which players will win college football’s major awards in 2022.

When it came time to make his pick for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the top linebacker in the country, Huguenin selected Sewell. Here’s what Huguenin had to say about Oregon’s star ‘backer:

“The buzz: Sewell figures to be the second member of his family, joining OT brother Penei, as an NFL first-round pick. Sewell is an old-fashioned thumper, but he also can flow sideline to sideline and looked solid in pass coverage last season (an interception, five pass breakups.)”

It would be quite an honor for Sewell, as he would be the first Duck to win the award in its 37-year history — although, Oregon sophomore Justin Flowe won the high school edition of the award in 2019.

Last year, Georgia star Nakobe Dean won the Butkus Award. Here is a rundown of every winner since 1985, courtesy of the Butkus Award’s official website.

  • 2021 – Nakobe Dean, Georgia
  • 2020 – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
  • 2019 – Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
  • 2018 – Devin White, LSU
  • 2017 – Roquan Smith, Georgia
  • 2016 – Reuben Foster, Alabama
  • 2015 – Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
  • 2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA
  • 2013 – C.J. Mosley, Alabama
  • 2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
  • 2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
  • 2010 – Von Miller, Texas A&M
  • 2009 – Rolando McClain, Alabama
  • 2008 – Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
  • 2007 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
  • 2006 – Patrick Willis, Mississippi
  • 2005 – Paul Posluszny, Penn State
  • 2004 – Derrick Johnson, Texas
  • 2003 – Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma
  • 2002 – E. J. Henderson, Maryland
  • 2001 – Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma
  • 2000 – Dan Morgan, Miami
  • 1999 – LaVar Arrington, Penn State
  • 1998 – Chris Claiborne, U.S.C.
  • 1997 – Andy Katzenmoyer, Ohio State
  • 1996 – Matt Russell, Colorado
  • 1995 – Kevin Hardy, Illinois
  • 1994 – Dana Howard, Illinois
  • 1993 – Trev Alberts, Nebraska
  • 1992 – Marvin Jones, Florida State
  • 1991 – Erick Anderson, Michigan
  • 1990 – Alfred Williams, Colorado
  • 1989 – Percy Snow, Michigan State
  • 1988 – Derrick Thomas, Alabama
  • 1987 – Paul McGowan, Florida State
  • 1986 – Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma
  • 1985 – Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma

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