The Butkus Award, which will be given out Dec. 9, announced five finalists Monday morning:
Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Hau’oli Kikaha, Washington
Denzel Perryman, Miami (Fla.)
Jake Ryan, Michigan
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
Among the finalists, Kikaha leads with 17 1/2 sacks (most in FBS) and 23 1/2 tackles for a loss (also most in FBS), Kendricks leads with 124 tackles (sixth in FBS) and three interceptions (48th in FBS).
Each player’s stats:
Kendricks: 124 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 2 PBUs, 1 forced fumble
Kikaha: 63 tackles, 23 1/2 TFLs, 17 1/2 sacks, 0 INTs, 2 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles
Perryman: 96 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles
Ryan: 104 tackles, 13 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles
Smith: 89 tackles, 7 1/2 TFLs, 2 sacks, 0 INTs, 1 PBU, 1 forced fumble
The Butkus Award also announced five high school finalists, headlined by a pair of Ohio State commits:
Jerome Baker, Benedictine - Cleveland, OH (Committed to Ohio State)
Justin Hilliard, St. Xavier - Cincinnati, OH (Committed to Ohio State)
John Houston, Junipero Serra - Gardena, CA (Uncommitted)
Malik Jefferson, Ralph H. Poteet - Mesquite, TX (Uncommitted)
Leo Lewis, Brookhaven - Brookhaven, MS (Committed to Ole Miss)
