Utah Linebacker Devin Lloyd Named Finalist For Butkus Award
Dec 14, 2020, 9:59 AM
Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) in action during a PAC12 football game between the Utah Utes and the Washington Huskies on November 28, 2020, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd has been named a finalist for the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s best collegiate linebacker.
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Lloyd is one of five finalists for the 36th annual Butkus Award and is the only Utah and Pac-12 player to be named a finalist for the award.
Others joining Lloyd, include Nick Bolton from Missouri, Tulsa’s Zaven Collins, Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah from Notre Dame and Georgia’s Monty Rice.
The award winner will be announced on or before December 22.
.@DevinLloyd_ is a finalist for the Butkus Award!#UBoyz
Read: https://t.co/TsXD4nj6L6 pic.twitter.com/teirm2Fnsh— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 14, 2020
The junior linebacker has started in all 4 games for the Utes this season and leads the team with 38 tackles. He also has a team-high six tackles for loss and is averaging 9.5 tackles per game.
In three of the four games this season, Lloyd has recorded double digit tackles. He posted a career-high 11 tackles against USC and Washington. Lloyd has recorded two or more tackles for loss twice this season against USC and Oregon State.
Kyle Whittingham was asked about Lloyd being named a finalist for the Butkus award.
“Obviously, some of the notoriety he’s getting was based on last year’s performance because he played very well last season,” Whittingham said. “He’s been a mainstay for us this year, making a bunch of tackles. Him and Nephi Sewell are one and two on the team in tackles and Devin’s been extremely productive last year carrying into this year. He’s a talent, he’s got everything you look for in a middle linebacker and he’s a student of the game. He’s got a burning desire to be great, and he’s putting the time and the work and the effort ever since he got here and now it’s paying off for him. So proud of him and great to see him on that shortlist of Butkus award finalists.”
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.
