The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Johnson named to Butkus Award watch list
07.23.2018 | Football
Senior LB Gary Johnson on watch list for 2018 Butkus Award.
CHICAGO, Ill. — Texas Football's Gary Johnson was named to the 2018 watch list for the Butkus Award, the organization announced on Monday. The award is presented to college football's top linebacker. The last Longhorn to win the award was Derrick Johnson in 2004. Johnson, in 2003, and Sergio Kindle in 2009 have also been finalists for the award.
Johnson, who hails from Douglas, Ala., enters his second season with the Longhorns after playing his first two seasons at Dodge City CC. He played in 13 games last season with seven starts, finishing fourth on the team with 60 tackles. He added six tackles for loss, two sacks, four QB hurries, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. He was named Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Week following a win at West Virginia in which he totaled seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a QB hurry. That fourth quarter strip-sack led directly to Longhorn points and extended the lead to 14 points as UT clinched bowl-eligibility with that victory.
Semifinalists for the 2018 Butkus Award will be named Oct. 29 with the finalists being announced Nov. 19. The Butkus Award, formed in 1985, is presented by the Butkus Foundation. The Award is named after Dick Butkus, the former Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker who played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls.
