14 SEC linebackers were named to the 2026 Butkus Award Watch List on Thursday. The award, named after legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus and presented by the Butkus Foundation, is given to the nation’s top linebacker each season. Last year, for example, the award was given to Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Semifinalists will be announced on Wednesday, October 28 while finalists will be revealed on Friday, November 20. Finally, the winner will be revealed during the week of December 7.
Several SEC programs saw 2 linebackers named to the 2026 watch list, which is comprised of 51 total players. Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Oklahoma all earned a pair of nods, while Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss all saw one player named to the list.
Here’s a full list of all SEC preseason candidates for the 2026 Butkus Award.
- Xavier Atkins, Auburn
- Rasheem Biles, Texas
- Amare Campbell, Tennessee
- Arion Carter, Tennessee
- Chris Cole, Georgia
- Ray Coney, Texas A&M
- TJ Dottery, LSU
- Myles Graham, Florida
- Owen Heineke, Oklahoma
- Kip Lewis, Oklahoma
- Keaton Thomas, Ole Miss
- Whit Weeks, LSU
- Raylen Wilson, Georgia
- Caleb Woodson, Alabama
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
