Butkus Award

Defensively, Larry Williams, unsung as a pass rusher.

Dwayne Curry is the leader, the Butkus Award finalist inside.

Ewell getting the start in the secondary at that corner spot.

Clay Mack is out with a groin pulled in practice all week.

I, I think Ohio State can out-athlete Iowa across the board.

This is not one of those years, as you mentioned, where you have Butkus Awards at multiple positions or the best-

Yeah

... safety in the country, uh, you know, flying around out there.

And, you know, i- in terms of the, you know, they don't get caught up in it here, winning awards.

The performance he had on Saturday is the kind that you look back and say, "Hey, that's when he secured the Dick Butkus Award." That, that's one of those moments.

And so I think with Chris Cole and what you have there is you have a guy that you can line up at multiple different spots.

You can put him off the edge.

And like you said, a premier position.

One thing I can add to the linebacker list is that recently, there's a Butkus Award winning award in high school for linebackers.

And the Butkus Award has put out their watch list.

And there is a couple of... training league players on that list, including Isaiah from Servite, Josiah Poyer as well from St. John Bosco are on that list.

One other Orange County player, Tavian Epps from Tustin, but those are a couple of local guys that are on the prestigious Butkus Award-winning, Butkus Award watch list.

All right, Scotty, let's shift now to defensive back, another strong position.

A couple guys that have caught my eye that probably are on your list.

When they

give him the Butkus Award, that'll be part of the highlights they show will be this

game.

A lot of flash plays today for Georgia.

Remember that number.

Leroy Hill, Butkus Award candidate all over the field against Wake Forest.

And you don't find two better corners in the ACC than Ty Hill and Justin Miller.

Serious speed.

Well, no, the-

The Butkus Award

...

the what?

Butkus Award.

No, the defensive player.

What they call it?

In other local news,

it was announced on Tuesday that Farmington standout athlete linebacker Josh McCarthy has been named to the 2026 high school watch list for the prestigious Butkus Award.

The watch list features just 51 of the nation's top high school linebackers, and the award honors players who embodies Hall of Famer Dick Butkus' legendary toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and exceptional linebacking skill.

Farmington Heights head coach Brent Eckley says McCarthy has lived up to the expectations he and the coaching staff have placed upon him.

The committee is comprised of 51 experts including professional, college, and high school scouts and prominent sports journalists.

Semi-finalists will be announced on October 28th with finalists unveiled November 30th and the winner of the award announced the week of December 7th.

Farmington's Josh McCarthy named to the watch list for the 2026 Butkus Award.

McCarthy has already verbally committed to Iowa State.