Georgia’s Leonard Floyd named Butkus Award Finalist

ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia junior Leonard Floyd has been named one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, according to an announcement on Monday by the Butkus Foundation.

LSU’s Deion Jones, Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith are the other four finalists for the award that honors the nation’s best collegiate linebacker.

The Butkus Award winner is expected to be announced on the student-athlete’s campus by Dec. 8.

Floyd, a 6-4, 231-pound native of Eastman, Ga., has the team’s second-most tackles (67) and leads the Bulldogs with 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. One of three Georgia defenders who has started every game this season, Floyd also has a team-high 12 quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery, which he took back 96 yards for a touchdown at Tennessee.

Last Saturday, Floyd posted a season-high 12 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, in the overtime win over Georgia Southern. In the overtime, he made tackles on first and second down, setting up a 3rd-and-15 situation. Then, Floyd combined with teammate Jordan Jenkins to stuff Georgia Southern on a 4th-and-1 situation on the Bulldog 16-yard line. Floyd anchored the middle of a unit that held the nation’s No. 1 rushing attack (378.9/game) to just 233 yards and only 10 point scored by the offense.

The Bulldogs (8-3) travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech (3-8) on Saturday. ESPN2 will televise the matchup at 12 p.m.