Butkus Award

Given every year since 1985 to the top college linebacker. Alabama and Oklahoma have won it most, four times each. Brian Bosworth won it twice. Share

Every winner

Season	Player	Position		School
2025	Jacob Rodriguez	LB		Texas Tech
2024	Jalon Walker	LB		Georgia
2023	Payton Wilson	LB		NC State
2022	Jack Campbell	ILB		Iowa
2021	Nakobe Dean	ILB		Georgia
2020	Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	ILB		Notre Dame
2019	Isaiah Simmons	OLB		Clemson
2018	Devin White	ILB		LSU
2017	Roquan Smith	OLB		Georgia
2016	Reuben Foster	ILB		Alabama
2015	Jaylon Smith	OLB		Notre Dame
2014	Eric Kendricks	ILB		UCLA
2013	C.J. Mosley	ILB		Alabama
2012	Manti Teʻo	LB		Notre Dame
2011	Luke Kuechly	LB		Boston College
2010	Von Miller	OLB		Texas A&M
2009	Rolando McClain	ILB		Alabama
2008	Aaron Curry	OLB		Wake Forest
2007	James Laurinaitis	LB		Ohio State
2006	Patrick Willis	LB		Ole Miss
2005	Paul Posluszny	LB		Penn State
2004	Derrick Johnson	LB		Texas
2003	Teddy Lehman	LB		Oklahoma
2002	E.J. Henderson	LB		Maryland
2001	Rocky Calmus	LB		Oklahoma
2000	Dan Morgan	LB		Miami (FL)
1999	LaVar Arrington	LB		Penn State
1998	Chris Claiborne	LB		USC
1997	Andy Katzenmoyer	LB		Ohio State
1996	Matt Russell	LB		Colorado
1995	Kevin Hardy	LB		Illinois
1994	Dana Howard	LB		Illinois
1993	Trev Alberts	LB		Nebraska
1992	Marvin Jones	LB		Florida State
1991	Erick Anderson	LB		Michigan
1990	Alfred Williams	LB		Colorado
1989	Percy Snow	LB		Michigan State
1988	Derrick Thomas	LB		Alabama
1987	Paul McGowan	LB		Florida State
1986	Brian Bosworth	LB		Oklahoma
1985	Brian Bosworth	LB		Oklahoma

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.