UGA football linebacker Smael Mondon has been named to the 2024 Butkus Award Watch List, The Butkus Foundation has announced.
The Butkus Award, named after legendary linebacker Dick Butkus, is an annual college football award given to the nation’s best linebacker by The Butkus Foundation.
Mondon is one of 51 linebackers named to the list. Other SEC linebackers include Eugene Asante (Auburn), Jihaad Campbell (Alabama), Deontae Lawson (Alabama), Harold Perkins (LSU), Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Kentucky), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), D’Eryk Jackson (Kentucky), Shemar James (Florida), Demetrius Knight (South Carolina), and Debo Williams (South Carolina).
Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 4, followed by the finalists three weeks later on Monday, Nov. 25. The winner of the 2024 Butkus Award will be named by Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Smael Mondon Jr., a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior, hails from Dallas, Ga. Mondon Jr. was a Second-Team All-SEC pick by the coaches last season, finishing second on the Georgia defense with 68 stops, including 42 solo. Mondon Jr. also recorded three quarterback takedowns.
The Bulldogs are slated to open the 2024 season against the Clemson Tigers in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Aug. 31. The game will be televised live by ABC at noon ET (Buy Tickets).
Preseason Watch List – 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐤𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝@SmaelJr #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/e5gUTc5yXW
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) August 13, 2024
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