BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State senior Akeem Davis-Gaither has made the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, which is given annually to the best linebacker in college football
Davis-Gaither is one of only eight linebackers from a Group of Five program on the watch list for the Butkus Award, and he's the only Sun Belt Conference linebacker on the list.
Davis-Gaither already had been named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award that goes to the College Defensive Player of the Year. He amassed 105 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hurries in 2018 for a defense that ranked fourth nationally in points allowed per game.