TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State linebacker Koron Crump was named to the 33nd Annual Butkus Award preseason watch list announced by the Butkus Foundation on Monday morning. The prestigious award is given annually to the nation's best linebacker.
Crump, who has also been tabbed to the Bednarik and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists, is slated to return for his final season at Arizona State after leading the Sun Devils in 2016 with nine sacks, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 in that category. The talented pass rusher recorded 37 tackles, while adding 10.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, in an impressive 2016 campaign that culminated in Crump earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Crump is one of nine Pac-12 players named named to the list, making it the third-straight season a Sun Devil has been named to the preseason list following Salamo Fiso in 2016 and Antonio Longino in 2015.
The Collegiate Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 42 universities, including six returning semifinalists and one returning finalist, Josey Jewell of Iowa.
Mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey of the award's namesake Dick Butkus whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in football history, each watch list features 51 players who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot. Appearance on the watch list is not required to become a semi-finalist.
Semifinalists will be named Oct. 30, finalists on Nov. 20 and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 5. The professional winner will be announced in early 2018.
Crump, who has also been tabbed to the Bednarik and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists, is slated to return for his final season at Arizona State after leading the Sun Devils in 2016 with nine sacks, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 in that category. The talented pass rusher recorded 37 tackles, while adding 10.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, in an impressive 2016 campaign that culminated in Crump earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Crump is one of nine Pac-12 players named named to the list, making it the third-straight season a Sun Devil has been named to the preseason list following Salamo Fiso in 2016 and Antonio Longino in 2015.
The Collegiate Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 42 universities, including six returning semifinalists and one returning finalist, Josey Jewell of Iowa.
Mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey of the award's namesake Dick Butkus whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in football history, each watch list features 51 players who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists who vote by private ballot. Appearance on the watch list is not required to become a semi-finalist.
Semifinalists will be named Oct. 30, finalists on Nov. 20 and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 5. The professional winner will be announced in early 2018.