Texas Football’s Jaylan Ford named to Butkus Award watch list
Texas senior linebacker and Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jaylan Ford was named to the Butkus Award watch list, the organization announced on Thursday. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the top linebacker in college football.
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Ford, from Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, had a breakout season in 2022. He notched AP All-American accolades after leading the Longhorns with a career-high 119 tackles (61 solo), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions. He also logged 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
The fourth-year linebacker has played in 35 games, logging 15 starts on the Forty Acres.
His four interceptions tied the single-season interception record for a Texas linebacker, last accomplished by Johnson in 2002 and 2003. All four of his interceptions led to Texas touchdowns, while his two fumble recoveries clinched victories over Kansas State and Iowa State. Ford’s 119 total tackles were the most in a season for a Longhorn since 2014 (Jordan Hicks – 147; Steve Edmond – 131).
He was a 2022 first-team All-Big 12 selection by both the Big 12 Conference and the Associated Press and named the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Defensive Player of the Year. Ford is the first Longhorn to earn the conference’s preseason defensive player of the year accolade since Malik Jefferson was chosen ahead of the 2016 season.
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Texas Longhorns Derrick Johnson won the award in 2004 and was also a finalist in 2003, as was Sergio Kindle in 2009.
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In addition to the Butkus Award, Ford has also been recognized on the Lott IMPACT Award and Nagurski Trophy preseason watch lists, and tabbed Preseason All-Big 12 honoree by the conference’s media representatives.
The Butkus Award will announce its semifinalists on Oct. 30, finalists on Nov. 20 and the winner will be unveiled on or before Dec. 6. The Butkus Award is presented by the Butkus Foundation and selected by a 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists.
