SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame graduate linebacker Jack Kiser has been selected for the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List. The award honors the top linebacker in college football and is named for the late Dick Butkus. Fifty-one players are selected to the watch list in honor of Butkus’ number, 51.
Three Notre Dame players have won the Butkus Award: linebackers Manti Te’o (2012), Jaylon Smith (2015) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2020).
Returning for his final season, Kiser owns 185 career tackles and will assume a key leadership role on the Irish defense heading into 2024 as one of the most tenured players in the program.
Kiser, a Pioneer High School grad and Royal Center native, was Notre Dame’s 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year. Last season, he played in all 13 games, making three starts as a consistent contributor on special teams as well as consistent playing time at linebacker. Kiser finished third on the team with 62 tackles and tied for the team-lead with 41 solo tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception, also recording a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries, and forced a fumble. He has also been nominated to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Watch List and Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.
Butkus’ tenacious leadership from the middle linebacker position earned him acclaim by NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history. The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.
Award semi-finalists are expected to be named November 4, with finalists named Nov. 25 and the winner named by Dec. 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and pro level will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois.
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