COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M football senior Otaro Alaka was named to the Butkus Award Watch List, it was announced Monday. The award is given annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
Alaka started in all 13 games last season, recording 78 tackles and was second on the team with 5.5 sacks. The Houston, Texas, native topped the defense with 12 tackles for loss totaling 57 yards and registered five or more tackles in 10 games. In the Aggies’ win at Florida last season, Alaka set a new career high with 12 tackles and recorded a sack. He intercepted his first career pass versus Mississippi State and notched a career-high five tackles for loss, including 2.0 sacks, at South Carolina.
The watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary “51” pro jersey associated with the Award’s namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
Semi-finalists will be named October 29, finalists November 19, and winners will be notified on or before December 4.
The Butkus Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. Its member-awards have honored more than 800 since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.