Danny Stutsman named Butkus Award finalist

Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman has been named as a finalist for the Butkus Award. The award, in its 40th year, is awarded to the best linebacker in the country.

Other finalists include Barrett Carter from Clemson, Chris Paul Jr. from Ole Miss, Carson Schwesinger from UCLA and Jalon Walker from Georgia. The award is named after legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus.

This is what the Butkus Award committee had to say about Danny Stutsman, “A fourth-year player from Windermere, Fla., Stutsman has started all 11 contests at middle linebacker and ranks fourth in the SEC and 21st nationally with his team-high 100 total tackles. He also ranks fourth in the SEC and 22nd nationally by averaging 9.1 tackles per game. He has registered 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack and three QB hurries this season. He has logged double-digit tackles four times this season and at least 15 tackles three times, and has led the Sooners in tackles in seven of 11 games this year.”

Stutsman has played in 46 career games and started each of his last 36 (all over the last three seasons), totaling 367 career tackles to rank ninth in Oklahoma history. His 35.5 career tackles for loss rank him seventh among OU inside linebackers (he needs 1.5 to move into the top four). Stutsman has also totaled 8.0 career sacks and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. With 100 tackles this season, he has registered triple-digit tackles in three consecutive campaigns. He is the first Sooner with triple-digit tackles in three consecutive seasons since Travis Lewis from 2008-2010.”

The Butkus Award winner will be named on December 10th.