CHICAGO, Ill. – North Carolina linebacker Power Echols has been named to the 2024 Butkus Award Watch List, the Butkus Award selection committee announced Tuesday. The Butkus Award has been presented to the top collegiate linebacker since 1985.
Last season, Echols started all 13 games for Carolina and tallied 102 tackles, 5.5 TFL, four QB pressures, two forced fumbles, one interception and a PBU. Echols finished seventh in the ACC in tackles (102) and was only one of seven players to record 100 or more tackles in the ACC. Following the 2023 season, Echols was named third-team All-ACC.
Echols has now been named to the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award Watch Lists prior to the 2024 season.
Award semi-finalists are expected to be named November 4, with finalists named November 25 and the winner named by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and pro level will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of the Big Ten Network television special.
The Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include the Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process. The Butkus Foundation has presented the high school and professional awards since 2008. The collegiate award is now in its 40th season.
Last season, Echols started all 13 games for Carolina and tallied 102 tackles, 5.5 TFL, four QB pressures, two forced fumbles, one interception and a PBU. Echols finished seventh in the ACC in tackles (102) and was only one of seven players to record 100 or more tackles in the ACC. Following the 2023 season, Echols was named third-team All-ACC.
Echols has now been named to the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award Watch Lists prior to the 2024 season.
Award semi-finalists are expected to be named November 4, with finalists named November 25 and the winner named by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and pro level will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of the Big Ten Network television special.
The Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include the Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process. The Butkus Foundation has presented the high school and professional awards since 2008. The collegiate award is now in its 40th season.
