Two Bulldogs named to 2025 Butkus Award Watch List

Georgia football linebackers CJ Allen and Chris Cole have each been named to the 2025 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.

Allen and Cole are among the 51 linebackers named to the list. Other SEC linebackers include Deontae Lawson (Alabama), Justin Jefferson (Alabama), Xavian Sorey (Arkansas), Alex Afari (Kentucky), Harold Perkins (LSU), Whit Weeks (LSU), TJ Dottery (Ole Miss), Andrew Jones (Ole Miss), Jalen Smith (Mississippi State), Triston Newson (Missouri), Kip Lewis (Oklahoma), Sammy Omosigho (Oklahoma), Arion Carter (Tennessee), Anthony Hill  (Texas), Liona Lefau (Texas), and Taurean York (Texas A&M).

“These linebackers exemplify the standard my Dad set for the position,” said Matt Butkus. “With our Carle Illinois partnership, we’re ensuring his legacy continues to impact lives both on and off the field through heart health awareness.”

Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 4, followed by the finalists three weeks later on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The winner of the 2025 Butkus Award will be named by Wednesday, Dec. 10.

CJ Allen, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound sophomore, hails from Barnesville, Ga. Allen appeared in all 14 games last season, making 12 starts, and ranked second among Bulldog tacklers with 76 total stops.

Cole, who stands 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, is a native of Salem, Va. He played all 14 games last season as a reserve linebacker and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

The Georgia Bulldogs are set to open the 2025 season at home against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday, Aug. 30. The game will be televised live by ESPN at 3:30pm ET (Buy Tickets).

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CJ Allen and Chris Cole were named to the Butkus Award Watch List.

The Butkus Award is presented every year to the most impactful linebacker in college football.#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/0QR5ZpPVif

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) July 31, 2025