Georgia football linebacker CJ Allen has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Butkus Award, 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.
Finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25 and winners will be notified on or before Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Jalon Walker is the last UGA player to claim the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. Walker was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft.
CJ Allen (6-1, 235) hails from Barnesville, Ga. Through eight games this season, he has 69 total tackles (39 solo, 30 assisted), with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Allen also has a pair of forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Last month, CJ Allen was named a Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalist. The award is given annually to the college football player who has “…demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.”
Georgia’s next game is on Saturday, Nov. 8 on the road against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-4, 1-4 SEC) at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss. The game will be televised by ESPN at 12:00pm ET (Buy Tickets).