While on his way to media availability last Monday, redshirt senior Ryan Connelly was informed he was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award. After Wisconsin’s 31–17 win over Rutgers on Saturday, the inside linebacker admitted he was taken aback.
“I was kind of surprised because they told me as I was walking down to talk to media,” Connelly said. “I mean, it’s pretty special. Honestly, I don’t know how they go about choosing anything. Definitely, it means a bit to me.”
In his time at Wisconsin, Connelly has emerged from unknown walk-on to playmaker in one of the best inside linebacking tandems in the nation with fellow redshirt senior T.