LAWRENCE, Kan. â Kansas redshirt senior linebacker Trey Lathan was one of 51 players named to the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List on Thursday, presented each year to the nationâs top collegiate linebacker.
Now in its 42nd year, the Butkus Award remains one of college football's most respected individual honors, recognizing linebackers whose performance reflects the standard established by Dick Butkus more than six decades ago at the University of Illinois and throughout his Hall of Fame NFL career.
The 2026 watch list features 51 linebackers representing 42 colleges and universities from across the country. Returning All-Americans, All-Conference performers, and emerging defensive standouts from across the Football Bowl Subdivision are among this year's candidates.
Lathan enters his redshirt senior season as Kansasâ leading tackler from a season ago with 86 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception and earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors at the conclusion of the season. Lathan has started 30 career games and played in 34 over his career at linebacker, totaling 198 career tackles.
Semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award will be announced on October 28th, finalists on November 20th, and the winner will be revealed during the week of December 7th. Selection is based on performance throughout the season, and appearance on the preseason watch list is not required for a player to win the Award.
The recipient will be recognized during the Butkus Award celebration in early 2027 and featured in the annual Big Ten Network Butkus Award special.
The 51-member Butkus Award Selection Committee is comprised of coaches, professional scouts, former players, and members of the media from across the country. Committee members evaluate candidates using the same qualities that defined Dick Butkus throughout his career: instincts, toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and consistent excellence at the linebacker position.
The 2025 Butkus Award winners included collegiate winner Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, now with the Miami Dolphins; high school winner Tyler Atkinson of Grayson High School, now at the University of Texas; and professional winner Jack Campbell of the Detroit Lions.
2026 BUTKUS AWARDÂź COLLEGIATE WATCH LIST
Xeâree Alexander, Washington
Xavier Atkins, Auburn
Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota
Rasheem Biles, Texas
Troy Bowles, Michigan
Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame**
Sammy Brown, Clemson**
Taye Brown, Arizona
Gary Bryant, Syracuse
Amare Campbell, Tennessee
Arion Carter, Tennessee
Owen Chambliss, Nebraska
Chris Cole, Georgia
Ray Coney, Texas A&M
Jeremy Culbreath, Central Florida
John Curry, Texas Tech
TJ Dottery, LSU
Kooper Ebel, Penn State
Jaxton Eck, New Mexico
Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech
Myles Graham, Florida
Jordan Hall, Michigan State
Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
Owen Heineke, Oklahoma
Isaiah Jones, Indiana
Gideon Lampron, Colorado
Trey Lathan, Kansas
Liona Lefau, Colorado
Kip Lewis, Oklahoma
Owen Long, Arizona State
Braylan Lovelace, Pittsburgh
Luke Mergot, Duke
Jayden Montgomery, Iowa
Blayne Myrick, Miami-Ohio
Sammy Omosigho, UCLA
Mason Posa, Wisconsin
Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Kam Robinson, Virginia*
Austin Romaine, Texas Tech
Matt Rose, Stanford
Peyton Seelman, North Carolina
Keaton Thomas, Mississippi
Jonathan Thompson, Cincinnati
Mohamed Toure, Miami-Fla.
Cade Uluave, BYU
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame
Whit Weeks, LSU
Ethan Wesloski, Oklahoma State
Raylen Wilson, Georgia
Daniel Wingate, Maryland
Caleb Woodson, Alabama
* â Returning Semifinalist