Utah Linebacker Devin Lloyd Named To Butkus Award Watch List

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah junior linebacker Devin Lloyd has been named to the Butkus Award watch list.

The award is given annually to the best linebacker in college football.

Lloyd is one of eight Pac-12 linebackers to be named to the watch list.

.@DevinLloyd_ has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List 🙌#UBoyz pic.twitter.com/73swpG570y

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) July 20, 2020

After using his redshirt as a freshman in 2017, Lloyd played in all 14 games on special teams and three games on defense. The coaches were very high on Lloyd going into the 2019 season and was likely going to be a backup to Francis Bernard and Manny Bowen. During the first day of fall camp leading up to the 2019 season, Bowen decided to leave the team and stop playing football.

The Chula Vista, California native was inserted into the starting lineup following the news and thrived. He led Utah with 91 tackles while also racking up 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Lloyd also returned an interception for a 64-yard touchdown against Oregon State. He was named a All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

Lloyd has also received some preseason recognition from national outlets. He has been named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-Pac-12 second team and the third team by Pick Six Previews.

Other Pac-12 linebackers named to the watch list include:

• Kuony Deng, California
• Nate Landman, Colorado
• Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Oregon State
• Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
• Isaac Slade-Matautia, Oregon
• Joe Tryon, Washington
• Jahad Woods, Washington State

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.