Isaiah Simmons surprised at team meeting with national award |
Clemson linebacker
Isaiah Simmons was honored as the nation's top linebacker with the Butkus Award on Sunday, the school announced.
Matt Butkus, son of Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer and award namesake Dick Butkus, surprised Simmons with the honor at the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex during the team’s College Football Playoff Selection Show watch party. He is a first Butkus Award winner for the program. “There’s been a lot of great things happen here at Clemson over 124 years, but we’ve ?????????? ????????, ????????, ????????, ???????? had a ???????????? ?????????? winner until today... Isaiah Simmons.”#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/NypKoocvBS Simmons, also the ACC defensive player of the year, has tallied 91 tackles with two interceptions, seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. The Butkus selection committee stated: “Simmons is one of the most versatile athletes to play the linebacker position. He's an exceptional athlete with unique length and makes plays at all three levels, with terrific rush ability, blitz timing, cover skill and tackling range. He's a modern-day linebacker with special match-up skills. For as good of a football player as he is, he's a better person and will represent the Butkus Award with class.” Following Simmons was Evan Weaver of California with 20 percent of the weighted vote, Zack Baun of Wisconsin (17%) Jordyn Brooks of Texas Tech (15%) and Micah Parsons of Penn State (13%). Logan Wilson of Wyoming and Kenneth Murray of Oklahoma also received votes. The Butkus Award® selection committee is comprised of 51 football coaches, recruiters, talent scouts and journalists who study football talent yearlong. Selectors are asked to recognize qualities that defined Butkus’ career; toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character, and linebacking skills. They follow a 3-2-1 weighted vote in a confidential ballot. Simmons succeeds the 2018 collegiate winner Devin White of LSU (now Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The 2019 high school winner was Justin Flowe of Upland, Calif. The 2019 pro winner will be announced early in 2020. The Butkus Award® is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization which advances health and wellness through special initiatives. This includes the I Play Clean® program encouraging athletes to play using their natural ability, and the Butkus Takes Heart™ program encouraging preventive heart scans and screening among adults. The Butkus Award a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 800 since 1935.
Today, the Butkus family formally announced what we already knew: Isaiah Simmons is the best linebacker in college football.
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 8, 2019
CONGRATS to @isaiahsimmons25 on becoming the first Butkus Award winner in Clemson history!https://t.co/wUsCFHeheK#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/EInBQa7yQH
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