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The Butkus Award ceremony made a celebrated return to Champaign, Illinois, for the second consecutive year, taking place at the esteemed Colonnades Club within Gies Memorial Stadium. This event, which honors the legacy of the legendary Dick Butkus, recognizably ties Champaign to its rich football heritage.
Named after the iconic Chicago Bears linebacker and proud Illinois alum, the Butkus Award is annually bestowed upon standout linebackers across high school, college, and professional levels. This prestigious accolade is orchestrated by The Butkus Foundation, which aims to uphold the high standards set by its namesake both on and off the field.
Former Illini All-American J Leman, who graced the ceremony as a speaker, expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the broader mission of the foundation. “I feel honored to be here, but it really is about Dick Butkus, about his mission, not only as a football player, but also for public health, and heart health, and what the Butkus Foundation does,” Leman stated.
The effort to host the ceremony in Champaign once again was a collaborative achievement involving Illini Athletics, the Butkus Foundation, and the Butkus family themselves. Reflecting on the significance of the event’s location, Matt Butkus remarked, “I think we’re permanently going to be back here, so my dad would probably love it. We’ve brought it back home for him. It feels like this is where it should be home at U of I.”
“I think we’re permanently going to be back here, so my dad would probably love it,” said Matt Butkus. “We’ve brought it back home for him. It feels like this is where it should be home at U of I.”
This year’s honorees were Lions linebacker Jack Campbell at the professional level, Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech for the college award, and Georgia native Tyler Atkinson on the high school level.