Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) against Ole Miss
Alabama Football is loaded with linebacker talent. The Butkus Award Watch List was not needed to understand the defensive advantage the Crimson Tide has in the position group. What the recently announced list did show is how many elite linebackers play football in the SEC.
The Butkus Award group is going into the 37th year of naming college football’s top linebacker. Every preseason, 51 college players are identified, to match the jersey number of Chicago Bears great, Dick Butkus. More than a few NFL experts claim Butkus was the best linebacker to ever play in the NFL.