ATHENS -- Another Bulldog has been bestowed the Butkus Award.
Georgia junior inside linebacker Nakobe Dean was the surprise recipient of the 37th Butkus Award on Sunday. The national honor, named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, goes annually to the player considered the best linebacker in college football.
Butkus and his son, Matt, surprised Dean with the trophy during the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs’ team meeting at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall late Sunday morning in Athens.
Dean becomes Georgia’s second Butkus recipient. He follows Roquan Smith — now of Butkus’ Chicago Bears — who won the award in 2017.
Dean received 34% of the weighted vote and 52% of first-place votes, according to the Butkus Award committee’s news release. Dean also won the 2018 Butkus for high school players as a senior at Horn Lake (Miss.) High.
Credit: File Photo
Credit: File Photo
A 6-foot, 225-pound junior who is majoring in mechanical engineering, Dean has started all 13 games for the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs this season, and 23 in a row dating to last season. He leads Georgia with 61 tackles and five quarterback sacks.
Even after Saturday’s 41-24 loss to No. 1 Alabama in the SEC Championship game, the Bulldogs still lead the nation in scoring defense at 9.5 points per game.
“Nakobe Dean is a playmaker with a special combination of strength, coverage ability, playmaking flair and leadership skill,” the Butkus committee said in a statement. “He consistently makes his presence felt on the field and in the community, elevates the defense with his command and is a complete linebacker who has made a tremendous impact on Georgia’s program.”
Finishing second was Devin Lloyd of Utah with 30% of the weighted vote. Others receiving votes: Leo Chenal of Wisconsin (15%), Damone Clark of LSU (7%), Darrian Beavers of Cincinnati (7%), Chad Muma of Wyoming (7%), and DeMarvion Overshown of Texas with a write-in vote.
The Butkus selection committee consists of 51 football coaches, recruiters, talent scouts and journalists, who submit a 3-2-1 weighted vote in a confidential ballot. The primary requirements are “toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills.”
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