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University of Massachusets Athletics
Barr Picked For Butkus Award Watch List
July 23, 2018 | Football
Graduate student linebacker led UMass, ranked top-50 nationally in tackles per game during 2017
BRUSH PRAIRIE, Wash. - University of Massachusetts football graduate student Bryton Barr earned a spot the 2018 Butkus Award Watch List, as announced by the Butkus Foundation on Monday. The Butkus Award recognizes the top linebackers in the nation. It is named in honor of college and professional football hall of fame former player Dick Butkus.
During his first season with the program in 2017, Barr led Massachusetts with 105 tackles (45-60) and was second among Minutemen with 9.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks. He also forced one fumble and recovered another loose ball, and posted one interception, a pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
Barr started all 12 games at middle linebacker and averaged 8.8 tackles per game, which ranked the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, native 40th across all NCAA Division I FBS student-athletes.
Barr and the University of Massachusetts is one of only 41 schools with a representative candidate on the 2018 Butkus Award Watch List.
Each watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with Butkus legacy as one of best players in NFL history. Semifinalists will be named Oct. 29, finalists on Nov. 19 and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 4.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
UMass Football • 2018 Award Watch Lists
Bryton Barr • Butkus Award (Top Linebacker)
Andrew Ford • Davey O'Brien Award (Top Quarterback)
Andy Isabella • Biletnikoff Award (Top Receiver)
Marquis Young • Doak Walker Award (Top Running Back)
2018 Butkus Award Watch List
Curtis Akins, Memphis
Otaro Alaka, Texas A&M
Josh Allen, Kentucky
Jeffrey Allison, Fresno State
Azeez Al-Shaair, FAU
Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, Purdue
Thomas Barber, Minnesota
Bryton Barr, Massachusetts
Tevis Bartlett, Washington
Devin Bush, Michigan
Josh Buss, Montana
Te'von Coney, Notre Dame
Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin
Deshaun Davis, Auburn
Troy Dye, Oregon
TJ Edwards, Wisconsin
Koa Farmer, Penn State
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
Joe Giles-Harris, Duke
Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas
Porter Gustin, USC
Terez Hall, Missouri
Nate Hall, Northwestern
Terrill Hanks, New Mexico State
Darius Harris, Middle Tennessee
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Justin Hollins, Oregon
Oluwaseun Idowu, Pittsburgh
Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Gary Johnson, Texas
Kendall Joseph, Clemson
Caleb Kelly, Oklahoma
Jordan Kunaszyk, California
Tre Lamar, Clemson
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Bobby Okereke, Stanford
Justin Phillips, Oklahoma State
Germaine Pratt, North Carolina State
Shaq Quarterman, Miami-Fla.
David Reese, Florida
Cameron Smith, USC
Ty Summers, TCU
Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame
Andrew Van Ginkel, Wisconsin
D'Andre Walker, Georgia
Devin White, LSU
Mack Wilson, Alabama
Juwon Young, Marshall
During his first season with the program in 2017, Barr led Massachusetts with 105 tackles (45-60) and was second among Minutemen with 9.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks. He also forced one fumble and recovered another loose ball, and posted one interception, a pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
Barr started all 12 games at middle linebacker and averaged 8.8 tackles per game, which ranked the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, native 40th across all NCAA Division I FBS student-athletes.
Barr and the University of Massachusetts is one of only 41 schools with a representative candidate on the 2018 Butkus Award Watch List.
Each watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with Butkus legacy as one of best players in NFL history. Semifinalists will be named Oct. 29, finalists on Nov. 19 and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 4.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
UMass Football • 2018 Award Watch Lists
Bryton Barr • Butkus Award (Top Linebacker)
Andrew Ford • Davey O'Brien Award (Top Quarterback)
Andy Isabella • Biletnikoff Award (Top Receiver)
Marquis Young • Doak Walker Award (Top Running Back)
2018 Butkus Award Watch List
Curtis Akins, Memphis
Otaro Alaka, Texas A&M
Josh Allen, Kentucky
Jeffrey Allison, Fresno State
Azeez Al-Shaair, FAU
Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, Purdue
Thomas Barber, Minnesota
Bryton Barr, Massachusetts
Tevis Bartlett, Washington
Devin Bush, Michigan
Josh Buss, Montana
Te'von Coney, Notre Dame
Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin
Deshaun Davis, Auburn
Troy Dye, Oregon
TJ Edwards, Wisconsin
Koa Farmer, Penn State
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
Joe Giles-Harris, Duke
Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas
Porter Gustin, USC
Terez Hall, Missouri
Nate Hall, Northwestern
Terrill Hanks, New Mexico State
Darius Harris, Middle Tennessee
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Justin Hollins, Oregon
Oluwaseun Idowu, Pittsburgh
Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Gary Johnson, Texas
Kendall Joseph, Clemson
Caleb Kelly, Oklahoma
Jordan Kunaszyk, California
Tre Lamar, Clemson
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Bobby Okereke, Stanford
Justin Phillips, Oklahoma State
Germaine Pratt, North Carolina State
Shaq Quarterman, Miami-Fla.
David Reese, Florida
Cameron Smith, USC
Ty Summers, TCU
Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame
Andrew Van Ginkel, Wisconsin
D'Andre Walker, Georgia
Devin White, LSU
Mack Wilson, Alabama
Juwon Young, Marshall
Players Mentioned
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