Alabama linebacker duo named to preseason watch list for top award
Those two players are returning starter Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson, with the award presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Lawson, who is coming off an injury late in the season, will be entering his fifth season at Alabama this fall, as well as his third as a starter. The redshirt senior also compiled a career-high 76 tackles a year ago for the Crimson Tide, along with seven TFL, two sacks, and an interception.
As for Jefferson, the redshirt senior had a breakout season a year ago for the Crimson Tide in which he posted a career-best 60 tackles with seven TFL and two sacks.
The Butkus Award is one that Alabama was won four times previously, the first of which came back in 1988 with Derrick Thomas. Alongside Thomas, the other three winners were Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013), and Reuben Foster (2016).
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