Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons named to Butkus Award watch list
Numerous eyes will be on Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons this season after he was named Monday to his third college football watch list — the Butkus Award.
Parsons had previously been named to the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists.
Parsons, a junior, was named a Consensus All-American last season by the NCAA and earned first-team honors from the Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN, American Football Coaches Association, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News, CBS Sports, the Football Writers Association of American, Walter Camp Foundation, The Athletic and Phil Steele.
A finalist for the Butkus Award in 2019, Parsons is one of 51 linebackers chosen in tribute to Dick Butkus, who wore the jersey number 51 during his Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears. NFL Films recognized Butkus as the best defensive player in history.
Semifinalists are expected to be named Nov. 2, finalists Nov. 23, and winners by Dec. 8.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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