Butkus Award Watch List 2014: Full List Released

The 2014 college football season is on the horizon, and the Butkus Award watch list has officially been announced with several hopeful linebackers on the tally. With notable names like Eric Striker, Shaq Thompson and Terrance Smith on the illustrious program, there will be a fight all season for the trophy.

One of the most coveted honors to work toward on the field, the Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker in the country at the end of a long year. While the Heisman, Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards are slightly more prestigious, past winners prove the Butkus Award is special.

Those names include NFL stars Von Miller, Luke Kuechly and Patrick Willis in the last decade. Though the names on this list might not be recognizable just yet, the winner will likely have a bright future ahead.

At the start, 51 names are entered—Dick Butkus' number when he played—but just one will emerge. Here's a look at the full watch list for the 2014 Butkus Award and a breakdown of some select players.

Player	School
Stephone Anthony	Clemson
Kelby Brown	Duke
Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil	Maryland
Dyshawn Davis	Syracuse
Aaron Davis	Colorado State
Paul Dawson	TCU
Trey DePriest	Alabama
Steve Edmond	Texas
Kyler Fackrell	Utah State
Maurice Falls	East Carolina
Leonard Floyd	Georgia
Kris Frost	Auburn
Alani Fua	BYU
Jarrett Grace	Notre Dame
Curtis Grant	Ohio State
Bryce Hager	Baylor
Ben Heeney	Kansas
Jordan Hicks	Texas
Zach Hodges	Harvard
Mike Hull	Penn State
Myles Jack	UCLA
Jordan Jenkins	Georgia
A.J. Johnson	Tennessee
Taiwan Jones	Michigan State
Eric Kendricks	UCLA
Hau'oli Kikaha	Washington
Derrick Malone	Oregon
Tyler Matakevich	Temple
Derrick Matthews	Houston
Lorenzo Mauldin	Louisville
Benardrick McKinney	Mississippi State
Braylon Mitchell	Arkansas
Mason Monheim	Illinois
Mike Orakpo	Texas State
Norkeithus Otis	North Carolina
Denzel Perryman	Miami (Fla.)
Terrance Plummer	UCF
Sunny Puetasi	Wyoming
Hayes Pullard	USC
Reggie Ragland	Alabama
Jake Ryan	Michigan
Stephon Sanders	SMU
Frank Shannon	Oklahoma
Jaylon Smith	Notre Dame
Terrance Smith	Florida State
Eric Striker	Oklahoma
A.J. Tarpley	Stanford
John Tavai	USC
Shaq Thompson	Washington
James Vaughters	Stanford
Ramik Wilson	Georgia

Eric Striker, Oklahoma

With a last name like Striker, this Oklahoma linebacker is expected to be a big hitter. He lives up to his name.

Last season, he put his name in the elite category with 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Just how dangerous is he on the football field? Bryan Fischer of NFL.com explains why he's one of the scariest players in the college game:

"

Just ask an Alabama player how scary it is to play against Striker. He is one of the best blitzers in the country and should be even more dangerous as the Stoops brothers continue to put him in good spots on the field. A ferocious hitter, offenses will know where he's lining up before every snap.

"

The Sooners front seven will be stout this season, but Striker is the clear leader in the middle. With his combination of speed and hard-hitting style, he might be an early favorite to be a finalist for the award.

Striker has also been on other watch lists, as Oklahoma Football notes:

Given the fact that past standouts like Kuechly and Miller won the award, Striker will have to put together a nearly flawless season to win. After breaking out with the Sooners last season, expect big things from the junior.

Reggie Ragland, Alabama

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Just a year after C.J. Mosley took home the hardware, another Alabama linebacker hopes to step up.

After two years of sitting behind supremely talented players like Mosley and others, Reggie Ragland is now getting his opportunity and is sure to make the most of it. Ragland spoke about getting the chance to start this season, per Andrew Gribble of AL.com:

"

It didn't frustrate me at all. I knew I had two years to learn behind the best, and I did.

... Since C.J.'s gone it's time for me to step up and become a leader on the defense. At first it was hard going, trying to get a grasp of it, but now it's better. I understand it more than I did the last two years.

"

The new starter was a 5-star linebacker in high school, so he has the talent to get the job done. But in a tough SEC, the emerging star will have his hands full with the speed and athleticism on the field.

Ragland isn't the only player on the list for Alabama, with Trey DePriest also hoping to finish at the top of the list. Both will have a chance to shine this season, but Ragland might be an underdog to emerge with the Crimson Tide.

Following in the footsteps of Mosley won't be easy, but Ragland certainly seems up to the task. On an Alabama team that will get plenty of attention all year, he has a chance to become a star and possibly hoist the Butkus Award at season's end.

Shaq Thompson, Washington

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

Coming into his junior season, Thompson has shown flashes of brilliance.

He recorded 70 tackles last season, but just .5 sacks. As a freshman, Thompson put up similar numbers for Washington, but hasn't quite broken out to this point.

Lining up at linebacker might not be the only position for Thompson this year, though. The former high school running back spoke about the potential of playing on offense this season, per Lindsay Schnell of Sports Illustrated:

"

It feels a little natural still. I haven't touched the ball for almost two years. [Former Washington coach Steve] Sarkisian had told me they'd do something for me [on offense] but nothing really happened. I'm wasn't tripping though -- I came here for linebacker, defense and special teams.

"

The two-way talent might just play an old school game this year, but he'll have to shine at linebacker to win the award. With his immense talent and speed on the field, Thompson has a chance to run away—pun intended—with the honor if he puts up huge numbers this year.

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