The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Ford named Butkus Award semifinalist
11.06.2023 | Football
Senior LB Jaylan Ford was selected a semifinalist for the award honoring the top linebacker in college football for the first time in his career.
CHICAGO – Texas Football senior LB Jaylan Ford was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Butkus Award, the Butkus Foundation announced on Monday. It marks the first time in his career that Ford has been named a semifinalist for the honor.
Longhorn Legend Derrick Johnson previously won the award in 2004 and was also a finalist in 2003, as was Sergio Kindle in 2009.
Ford, a native of Frisco, Texas, has played in and started all nine games this season. He leads the Longhorns with 65 tackles, 28 solo tackles and 10 tackles for loss while adding one sack, two interceptions, four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He's collected five tackles or more in all nine games this season with six games of at least seven tackles, while posting one or more tackles for loss in each of the last eight games. In the win over BYU, he tallied a season-high 11 tackles, while in the victory at Houston he registered 2.5 tackles for loss. Of his three takeaways this season, two have led to Texas touchdowns with the third resulting in a Longhorn field goal.
The 2023 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a gala event on Jan. 27, 2024, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The event will honor the legacy of namesake Dick Butkus and be supported by numerous noted NFL Alumni. Ticket and sponsorship information is available by contacting the Butkus Foundation.
