AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn senior defenders Zakoby McClain and Smoke Monday have been named to the watch lists for the Butkus Award and the Raycom Jim Thorpe Award, respectively.
McClain, a watch list representative for the Chuck Bednarik Award for the collegiate defensive player of the year, led the nation with 113 tackles last season, averaging 10.3 stops per game, which ranked third in the SEC and 19th nationally.
Monday, a returning starter at safety, earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2020 after making 73 tackles including four tackles for loss.
The Butkus Award honoring the nation's best linebackers kicked off its 37th annual selection process today by announcing its collegiate and high school preseason watch lists.
In his 37th season, the Butkus Award watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with the award's namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
The Collegiate Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 51 universities, including returning finalist Devin Lloyd of Utah and five returning semi-finalists.
Semifinalists are expected to be named Nov. 1, finalists Nov. 22, and winners on or before Dec. 7. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
The Butkus Award® is presented by the Butkus Foundation and selected by a 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists. The award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association Monday announced the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. This list includes 40 of the nation's best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences and one independent. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added as the season progresses.
Monday is one of seven SEC student-athletes on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitor the watch list players and narrow the field to 10 to 15 semifinalists in October. This committee reconvenes on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
The winner will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following ESPN's live presentation at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. More than 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.
For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit: www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org
Zakoby McClain
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer