CHICAGO — Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2021 Butkus Award, the Butkus Foundation announced on Monday morning.
The Butkus Award has been presented to the nation's best linebacker since 1985. It is named after Dick Butkus, arguably the greatest defensive player in football history.
One of four Pac-12 players on the list, Sewell is the first player in program history to be selected as a Butkus Award semifinalist. He was on the preseason watch list after being named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2020.