The Big Ten has been home to several legendary linebackers. The Butkus Award has been given to the top linebacker each year since 1985. 10 Big Ten linebackers (at the time) have won the award. Add in the ones from programs who joined later, the conference is home to 13.
In the first week, the Maxwell Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Paul Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy, Ray Gay Award, and Lou Groza Awards were all previewed. Last week, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Doak Walker Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Mackey Award, and Rimington Trophy watchlists dropped.
This week, the Bednarik Award watchlist preceded the Butkus Award watchlist.
16 Big Ten Linebackers on Butkus Award Watchlist
Carson Bruener, Washington
Heading into his fourth season as a starter, Washington’s Carson Bruener is one of the most productive linebackers in the country. In three seasons, he’s made 201 tackles, eight and a half tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and forced three fumbles.
Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson, Iowa
Iowa has a pair of linebackers on the Butkus Award watchlist for 2024. Linebacker Jay Higgins led the country with 171 tackles a year ago to go with five tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He was a First-Team All-American.
Beside him is Nick Jackson. He transferred in last year and posted his fourth 100-tackle season. His 464 career tackles are 12th-most in college football history and he’s within 114 tackles for the most tackles in college football history.
Ruban Hyppolite II, Maryland
Heading into his fifth season, Ruban Hyppolite II has been a regular contributor to the Terps’ defense. In his two fully-healthy seasons in 2021 and 2023, Hyppolite amassed a total of 128 tackles three and a half tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Zander Mueller, Northwestern
Xander Mueller has been Northwestern’s leading linebacker for the last two years. He’s coming off his first 100-tackle season and has amassed a total of 197 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, seven-and-a-half sacks, five interceptions, four pass breakups, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble over the last two seasons.
Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
Femi Oladejo transferred to UCLA from California before the 2023 season. Last year, in his first with the Bruins, Oladejo played in 13 games and recorded 54 tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, half of a sack, an interception, three pass breakups, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Another transfer on the Butkus Award watchlist, Jaishawn Barham left Maryland for Michigan this offseason. With the Terps, Barham broke out as a freshman. After two years, he finished with 95 tackles, nine and a half tackles for loss, seven sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble.
Jaffrey Bassa, Oregon
Over the last three years, Jeffrey Bassa has been a productive defender. Initially a safety, Bassa moved to linebacker before the 2022 season and didn’t miss a step. For his career, Bassa has logged 182 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three interceptions (one pick-six), and broke up two other passes.
Aiden Fisher, Indiana
There were 13 James Madison-t0-Indiana transfers following head coach Curt Cignetti. Aiden Fisher, after leading the Dukes on defense, was one. He finished with 47 more tackles than any other player with James Madison. His 108 tackles were fifth-most in the Sun Belt and he added six tackles for loss, a sack and a half, an interception, and seven pass breakups.
CJ Hicks, Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Ohio State has a competition at linebacker but it looks like both C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles will get plenty of playing time. Hicks came to Ohio State as one of the top defensive players in the 2022 class but has only gotten on the field for 75 defensive snaps (all last year) and a handful of special teams snaps.
Styles, on the other hand, was a starter at safety a year ago. He finished with 537 snaps on defense last year and accounted for 53 tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
The two have high ceilings and will likely split time at WILL linebacker, alongside Cody Simon (who isn’t on this this, oddly enough).
Kobe King, Penn State
LBU has produced two Butkus Award winners and Kobe King could be the next. Over his last two seasons as a full-timer, King has made 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, three pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries, on one of which he scored a touchdown.
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
After missing the majority of 2023 with an injury, Minnesota’s senior linebacker Cody Lindenberg is back on the Bednarik and Butkus Award watchlists for 2024. Last year, he only appeared in four games. In 2022, he played a full season and notched 71 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, and broke up two passes.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, USC
Brand new to the USC program, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold defected to the Trojans this past offseason. With the Beavers, Mascarenas-Arnold appeared in 37 games over the past three seasons. He broke out last year to the tune of 107 tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, and two interceptions. Considering USC had one of the worst defenses in the country a year ago, they’ll lean on him.
Dylan Rosiek, Illinois
An Illinois linebacker hasn’t held the Butkus Award since 1994. Dylan Rosiek, after making the most of his first season as the starter, looks to make his argument in 2024. Last year, Rosiek posted 82 tackles, seven and a half tackles for loss, a sack, and three pass breakups, and led the Big Ten with four forced fumbles.
Mohamed Toure, Rutgers
Finally, Mohamed Toure is looking to be the first Rutgers linebacker to take the Butkus Award. Over his last two seasons, he appeared in 26 games and amassed 144 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He’s notched four and a half sacks in each of his last three seasons.
