Love to see and read this: senior Malik Harrison and junior @Tuf_Borland have been named to the Butkus Award watch list which honors the nation's outstanding linebackers. @OhioStateFB @BuckeyesPR #GoBucks
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) July 22, 2019
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The venerable Butkus Award released its 2019 preseason watch list Monday and there’s not one, but two Buckeyes on the list. Both Malik Harrison and Tuf Borland are among the 51 names released that will no doubt be revised throughout the year. The award goes out to the best linebacker in college football annually.
Harrison is coming off a junior season in which he tied Jordan Fuller for the team lead with 81 tackles. There’s not too many linebackers that possess the combination of size and athleticism, and he could be a breakout year for him.
Borland, who was hampered somewhat coming off a significant Achilles injury, registered 67 tackles and 3 sacks last year. Being 100 percent healthy should help him regain the potential we saw in him as a freshman.
The Butkus award — named after former Illinois All-American Dick Butkus — was established in 1985. Two Buckeyes have won the award in its 33 years including Andy Katzenmoyer in 1997 and James Laurinaitis in 2007.
