AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's Deshaun Davis was one of 51 players named to the Butkus Award watch list, honoring the nation's best linebacker, on Monday.
Davis, who was selected second-team All-SEC by the media last week, led the Tigers with 82 tackles last season. He also had 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. The senior has started every game the past two seasons and currently has 150 career tackles.
"I embrace the role of being an SEC middle linebacker," Davis said. "I embrace the role of being a leader at Auburn University because I know a lot of linebackers paved the way for me – Travis Williams, Karlos Dansby, Takeo Spikes, Josh Bynes – a lot of great linebackers came from Auburn University. I'm just trying to carry the torch that they gave me."
"[He's] really probably our defensive leader," added Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. "He's like a coach on the field. He's a guy that plays with a chip on his shoulder, such intensity."
Davis becomes the fourth Auburn linebacker to make the Butkus Award watch list since 2015. That year, a trio of Tigers – Kris Frost, Carl Lawson and Cassanova McKinzy – made the list. And last year, Tre' Williams was named to the watch list prior to the season.
Semifinalists for this year's Butkus Award will be named Oct. 29. From there, the finalists will be named Nov. 19, and the winner will be notified on or before Dec. 4.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greg_ostendorf