It was announced last Thursday that Nebraska linebacker Owen Chambliss has been named to the Butkus Award Watch list. Chambliss is one of 51 linebackers to be placed on the list. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
The 51-player list is named in honor of Dick Butkus’s iconic jersey number “51”. Butkus was known for his toughness, instincts, leadership, and competitiveness. He is the epitome of what it takes to be a linebacker. Butkus had a stellar career at Illinois and then became a Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears. You’ll never see a film on NFL history without seeing the bone jarring tackles and fierce hits of Butkus. To be compared to him is an honor in itself.
Butkus, a former Big Ten player, would be pleased on how well the Big Ten is represented on this year’s watch list with 12 selections.
Chambliss, a 6’3”, 240-pound junior linebacker is in his first season at Nebraska. He played last season at San Diego State where he was selected first-team All-Mountain West. He logged 110 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks last season while leading the Aztecs.
Chambliss came to Nebraska with new Defensive Coordinator and linebacker coach Rob Aurich. One of the top linebackers in the portal, Chambliss was highly sought after. But it was the Aurich connection that pushed him to land in Lincoln, to Nebraska’s benefit. The new Husker linebacker will play a vital role in helping the Blackshirts switch from a 3-3-5 defense to a 4-2-5. Perhaps one of the most cerebral linebackers the Huskers have ever had, Chambliss’s understanding of Aurich defense will make him a coach on the field. He will be the “green dot” guy when the Blackshirts take the field against Ohio. Chambliss has bought in to Aurich’s defense, and he will lead the Blackshirts using Aurich’s motto of, “Simple, Fast, and Violent”.
Butkus award winner or not, look for Chambliss to be one of Nebraska’s best defensive players on the field this season, if not the best.
Big Ten players on this year’s list include:
- Xe’ree Alexander-Washington
- Maverick Baranowski-Minnesota
- Troy Bowles-Michigan
- Owen Chambliss-Nebraska
- Kooper Ebel-Penn State
- Jordan Hall-Michigan State
- Rolijah Hardy-Indiana
- Isiah Jones-Indiana
- Jayden Montgomery-Iowa
- Mason Posa-Wisconsin
- Sammy Omosigho-UCLA
- Daniel Wingate-Maryland.
Recognizable names of past winners:
- Brian Bosworth-Oklahoma
- Trev Albert-Nebraska
- LaVar Arrington-Penn State
- Von Miller-Texas A&M
- Luke Kuechly-Boston College
- Jack Campbell-Iowa
- Jacob Rodriguez-Texas Tech.
Trev Alberts is the only former Husker to ever win the award.
With the Butkus Award being one of college football’s most respected individual honors, being placed on the list suggests a player is one of the top linebackers in the nation. However, other than being recognized, making the list has little significance to being the winner, as you don’t need to be on the list to win the award.
Semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award will be announced October 28th, finalist November 20th, and the winner will be revealed the week of October 7th.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
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