As a continuation of the preseason award season, Nate Landman and Davion Taylor have found themselves on the watch list for the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s best linebacker.
Landman earned that preseason distinction by becoming a superstar in his first year starting. Before the 2018 season, we didn’t even know how much Landman would play, but the Buffs moved Drew Lewis to outside linebacker and started Landman next to Rick Gamboa. From his very first start, Landman was flying all over the field ruining people. Even with targeting penalties keeping him off the field — they were all on sketchy calls, but it’s not worth re-hashing — he put ridiculous numbers that saw him named to the Midseason All-America First Team and All-Pac-12.