Georgia’s Roquan Smith became the second consecutive SEC player to win the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker.
Smith, who was named MVP of the SEC championship game, is the first Bulldogs linebacker to win the award. Alabama’s Reuben Foster won the award in 2016.
The other finalists this season were Wisconsin’s T.J. Edwards, Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, Michigan’s Devin Bush and Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel.
Smith, a junior, leads Georgia in tackles with 113, 44 more than any other Bulldog, as well as in sacks (5.5) and quarterback hurries (17). He had 13 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries in the SEC title game.