LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Another day at camp, another preseason honor for UNLV senior linebacker
Jackson Woodard who on Tuesday was announced as a member of the Watch List for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Already announced as a member of the 2024 watch lists for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award, which go to college football's top overall defensive player, Woodard was a 2023 First Team All-MW selection, ranked third in the conference with 117 total tackles last fall and became the program's first-ever First Team CSC Academic All-America honoree as well. Last month he became the second Rebel to earn Preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors, joining UNLV Hall of Famer and NFL veteran cornerback Kevin Thomas in 2000. Woodard is the first Rebel to earn a spot on the Butkus list since current NFL player Javin White in 2019.
The 51 linebackers named to the watch list is a nod to the storied "51" pro jersey won by the award's namesake, the late Dick Butkus. His tenacious leadership from the middle linebacker position earned him acclaim by NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history. Award semifinalists are expected to be named November 4, with finalists named November 25, and the winner named by December 10. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and pro level will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of the Big Ten Network television special.
The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee, which is comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists, guides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus' career: toughness,
on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The Award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.
Under the direction of 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year
Barry Odom, Woodard and the Rebels will kick off their 57th season of football on August 31 by heading to Big 12 Conference member Houston at 4 p.m. PT on FS1 in the first of a school-record 11 national TV games. The home opener comes one week later when Utah Tech comes to Allegiant Stadium for a noon kickoff on September 7.
Season tickets, three-game mini-plans and single-game tickets for the six-game 2024 home schedule are available now by visiting
unlvtickets.com or calling (702) 739-FANS (3267). For information on VIP premium club seats or suites at Allegiant Stadium, contact the Premium Sales office at
premiumseating@unlv.edu or by calling (702) 895-0292.
2024 BUTKUS AWARD WATCH LIST
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Sean Brown, North Carolina State
Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Xander Mueller, Northwestern
Jacob Manu, Arizona
Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Eugene Asante, Auburn
C.J. Hicks, Ohio State
Andrew Simpson, Boise State
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Jack Kelly, BYU
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Shemar James, Florida
Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
Dylan Rosiek, Illinois
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Kobe King, Penn State
Jay Higgins, Iowa
Mohamed Toure, Rutgers
Nick Jackson, Iowa
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Jacob Dobbs, James Madison
Debo Williams, South Carolina
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, USC
D'Eryk Jackson, Kentucky
Gaethan Bernadel, Stanford
Harold Perkins, LSU
Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
Ruben Hyppolite II, Maryland
Anthony Hill Jr, Texas
Chandler Martin, Memphis
Namdi Obiazor, TCU
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
Matt Salopek, Miami-Ohio
Lander Barton, Utah
Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Karene Reid, Utah
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Sam Brumfield, Virginia Tech
Colin Ramos, Navy
Carson Bruener, Washington
Jackson Woodard, UNLV
Shae Suiaunoa, Wyoming
Power Echols, North Carolina
