The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.28.2026 | Football
The senior linebacker becomes the Longhorns’ second semifinalist in the last two years.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 11/11 Texas Football senior linebacker Rasheem Biles was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, the Butkus Foundation announced Wednesday. The Butkus Award is presented each year to the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
Last season, former UT linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was named a finalist for the award, making him the first finalist since Sergio Kindle in 2009. Derrick Johnson won the award in 2004 after being a finalist in 2003. Current UT freshman linebacker Tyler Atkinson won the 2025 Butkus High School Award as a senior.
Biles is one of 15 semifinalists, and it marks the first time he has been selected as a semifinalist. The Columbus, Ohio, native was named the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 26 – his second SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honor this season and his first since Sept. 7.
Biles leads Texas with three interceptions and seven quarterback hurries while ranking second on the team in total tackles (53) and tackles for loss (5.5). He has also generated three pass break-ups, one sack and a forced fumble. Biles ranks third in the SEC and 12th in the FBS with three interceptions. He also ranks third in the conference and 13th nationally in interceptions per game (0.43).
Biles is an integral part of a Texas defense that leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally in team passing efficiency defense (107.66) and 15th in the FBS in total defense (285.4). Texas ranks 14th in the FBS in team tackles for loss (7.1), 19th in team sacks (2.71), 21st in passing yards allowed (178.1), 27th in rushing defense (107.3), 29th in red zone defense (0.778), and 30th in scoring defense (19.1).
In his Longhorn debut against Texas State on Sept. 5, Biles totaled five tackles with a half tackle for loss and forced two turnovers, including a forced fumble and an interception. The forced fumble resulted in a 59-yard return touchdown by sophomore DB Graceson Littleton for a 28-0 lead, while the interception set up the Longhorns' offense at the Bobcats' 45-yard line, and they scored a touchdown three plays later for a 49-7 lead. It was Biles' first career game with a forced fumble and an interception. Biles was named the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Texas State on Sept. 7. In UT's win over No. 1/1 Ohio State on Sept. 12, Biles logged eight tackles (six solo). Biles followed with a four-tackle, one interception and one quarterback hurry performance against UTSA on Sept. 19. In Texas' SEC opener at No. 14/13 Tennessee on Sept. 26, Biles paced Texas with 13 tackles (seven solo), including two tackles for a loss of eight yards and a sack for a loss of four yards, to go along with a quarterback hurry. In the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Oct. 10, Biles led Texas with 12 tackles (three solo), including two tackles for a loss of five yards. Against Florida on Oct. 17, Biles carded seven tackles (three solo), a quarterback hurry and a pass break-up.
Biles tallied four tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, two pass breakups and four pressures to help lead Texas to a 34-27 win over No. 7 Ole Miss on Oct. 24 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Biles produced a critical interception that came on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line for the Rebels with 1:37 to go in the first half, maintaining the Longhorns' 24-3 lead. It was his team-leading third interception of the season, and it also marked the first time this season the Rebels had been held out of the end zone after obtaining a first-and-goal. His first pressure of the game came on Ole Miss' second possession of the first quarter on a third-and-10, causing an early throw and incompletion to a potential open receiver for a touchdown and forcing a field goal. He registered two more pressures on the next possession with the second being part of the series that forced a punt. His final pressure came in the fourth quarter with the game tied, 24-24, on second down of the series that forced a punt to give the ball back to the offense for the drive to take the lead. Biles' pass break-up came on Ole Miss' last drive of the game where the Longhorns stopped the Rebels to secure the win.
Finalists for the collegiate and high school awards will be announced on Nov. 20, with the 2026 Butkus Award winners named the week of Dec. 7.
Up next, Biles and the Longhorns host Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 31, at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ESPN with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Kris Budden (reporter) on the call.
