Mason Monheim found himself among two of the country’s most notable award watch lists when they were unveiled on Tuesday.
The Illinois linebacker is one of 51 names on the Butkus Award preseason watch list and one of 146 players on the Lombardi Award preseason watch list.
The senior enters his final season at Illinois with 294 career tackles, second-most among active FBS players. The honorable mention All-Big Ten pick a year ago led the Illini in tackles (111) and forced fumbles (four) during the 2014 season.
Semifinalists for the Butkus Award — given to the nation’s top linebacker in honor of former Illini Dick Butkus — will be named Nov.