BUTKUS AWARD® ANNOUNCES 2026 HIGH SCHOOL WATCH LIST
Nation’s premier linebacker award recognizes 51 high school standouts while honoring Dick
Butkus’ legacy on the field and beyond football
Indiana standouts Fox and Renya make the list
CHICAGO — September 10, 2026 — The Butkus Foundation today announced the 2026 high school watch list for the
Butkus Award®, recognizing 51 of the nation’s top high school linebackers. The 51-player list honors Dick Butkus’ iconic
No. 51 jersey and recognizes the toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and linebacking skill
that defined one of the greatest defensive players in football history.
This year’s high school watch list is being released after the opening weeks of the season, allowing the selection committee
to incorporate early-season film and evaluate players in their current roles before establishing the initial field of candidates.
Appearance on the watch list is not required for a player to win the Award.
The 51-member Butkus Award Selection Committee is comprised of coaches, professional scouts, former players, and
members of the media from across the country. Committee members evaluate candidates using the qualities that defined
Dick Butkus throughout his career, with particular emphasis on instincts, toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness,
football character, and consistent excellence at the linebacker position. The Award continues to place special value on
linebackers who play off the ball in a two-point stance, the traditional form of the position.
“At the high school level, players are still developing quickly, and the opening weeks of the season give us another
opportunity to see who is growing into the position,” said Matt Butkus of the Butkus Foundation. “Every player on this list
has earned the chance to be part of the Butkus Award conversation. My Dad believed great linebackers changed games
through preparation, toughness, intelligence, and relentless effort, and those qualities still define this Award today.”
Semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award will be announced on October 28, finalists on November 20, and the winner will
be revealed during the week of December 7. The high school, collegiate, and professional recipients will be recognized
during the Butkus Award celebration at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois in April 2027 and featured in the
annual Big Ten Network Butkus Award special.
The 2025 high school Butkus Award winner, Tyler Atkinson of Grayson High School, is now at the University of Texas.
Former high school winners Drayk Bowen of Notre Dame and Sammy Brown of Clemson are among the candidates on the
2026 collegiate Butkus Award watch list, continuing the Award’s connection from the high school level through college
football and the NFL.
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award® honors the nation’s top linebackers at the high school, collegiate, and professional
levels while preserving the legacy of Dick Butkus through excellence in football, cardiovascular health advocacy, and
youth character development. Through the Butkus Foundation’s Takes Heart™ initiative and partnership with Carle Illinois
College of Medicine, the Foundation supports education, research, and expanded access to preventive cardiovascular
screening. The Foundation also promotes natural athletic performance through its longstanding I Play Clean® initiative.
When taking stewardship of the Butkus Award in 2008, Mr. Butkus emphasized:
“When an outstanding player receives the Butkus Award, he will know two things: first, he is recognized as the best of the
best linebackers in the country; second, and in the long run most important, he will understand this recognition brings a
responsibility of giving back.”
2026 BUTKUS AWARD® HIGH SCHOOL WATCH LIST
Sean Fox Warren Central High School
Ethan Renya Andrean High School
Player School City, State
Case Alexander Washington Washington, OK
Mikahi Allen Don Bosco Prep Ramsey, NJ
Ty Ashley Owensboro, Owensboro, KY
Gregory Batson Lee County Leesburg, GA
Max Brown Jefferson Jefferson, GA
Rick Brown Susquehanna Township Harrisburg, PA
Ta’sheem Butler Glassboro Glassboro, NJ
Cole Crawford Cartersville, Cartersville, GA
Jeremiah Culpepper Troup County, LaGrange, GA
Quinton Cypher Millbrook Raleigh, NC
Taven Epps Tustin Tustin, CA
Brayton Epps Washington Massillon, OH
Frederrick Ford Greenwood Greenwood, MS
Sean Fox Warren Central, Indianapolis, IN
Noah Glover Battlefield Haymarket, VA
Jake Godfree North Gwinnett Suwanee, GA
Prince Goldsby Blue Springs South Blue Springs, MO
Joakim Gouda McEachern Powder Springs, GA
Caleb Green Lee’s Summit North Lee’s Summit, MO
Izzy Hammons Choctaw Choctaw, OK
Kaden Henderson Jesuit Tampa, FL
Antwoine Higgins Anderson Cincinnati, OH
Roman Igwebuike Mount Carmel Chicago, IL
Amarri Irvin IMG Academy Bradenton, FL
Marshaun Ivy Cardinal Ritter College Prep Saint Louis, MO
Olrick Johnson III Harrison Kennesaw, GA
Player School City, State
Isaiah Leilua Servite Anaheim, CA
Brandon Lockley St. Joseph’s Prep Philadelphia, PA
Jalaythan Mayfield Lincolnton, Lincolnton, NC
Josh McCarthy Farmington Farmington, MO
Ellis McGaskin Williamson Mobile, AL
Colton McKibben Carlsbad, Carlsbad, NM
Isaac McNeil Vigor Prichard, AL
Jhadyn Nelson Langham Creek Houston, TX
Kareem Palmer Toombs County Lyons, GA
Isaiah Phelps Pacifica Oxnard, CA
Josiah Poyer St. John Bosco Bellflower, CA
Aroson “AJ” Randle Jr. Garner, Garner, NC
Ethan Reyna Andrean Merrillville, IN
Kobe Rhymes North Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Sean Rice St. Laurence Burbank, IL
Jackson Ross Hammond School Columbia, SC
Samson “Toa” Satele Mililani Mililani, HI
Zykee Scott La Salle College Philadelphia, PA
Kenneth Simon II Brentwood Academy Brentwood, TN
Ja’Bios Smith Swainsboro, Swainsboro, GA
Gavin Stecker Bettendorf Bettendorf, IA
Tate Wallace Regina Iowa City, IA
Braylon Williams Lamar Arlington, TX
Ba’Roc Willis Pell City, Pell City, AL
Cooper Witten Liberty Christian Argyle, TX
About the Butkus Award®
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award® honors the nation’s top linebackers at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels while
preserving the legacy of Dick Butkus through excellence in football, cardiovascular health advocacy, and youth character development.
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