Chris Cole named semifinalist for 2026 Butkus Award

Georgia football linebacker Chris Cole has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 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 Friday, November 20 and winners will be notified on or before Monday, December 7.

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.

Cole, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior, is a native of Salem, Va. He is second on the team with 40 stops this season, including a team-high 28 solo tackles. Cole leads the Bulldogs defense with 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks with a pair of fumble recoveries.

Georgia’s next game is on Saturday, October 31 against the No. 17 Florida Gators at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. The game will be televised by ABC at 3:30pm ET (Buy Tickets).

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