AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn senior K.J. Britt has been named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Britt, who earned First Team All-SEC honors in 2019, made 69 tackles including 10 tackles for loss as a junior.
The Butkus Award kicked off its 36th annual selection process Monday by announcing its collegiate and high school preseason watch lists.
Each 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.
The Collegiate Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 44 universities, including 2019 finalist Micah Parsons of Penn State.
Semifinalists are expected to be named Nov. 2, finalists Nov. 23, and winners on or before Dec. 8. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
The Butkus Award® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer