CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Since 1985, the Butkus Award has signified the nation’s top linebacker.

This year, the award ceremony returned to Champaign, the place of the Butkus name became legend.

The chance to host this year’s ceremony a great way for Illini athletics to honor one of the greatest players in program history.

“Dick (Butkus) is obviously such an important part of our history and had meant a lot to me in my first eight years here to be able to develop a relationship with him and to be able to honor him the way we did with him being our inaugural member of our Hall of Fame and of course, building the statue outside the Smith Center,” Illinois AD Josh Whitman said.

“We know how important this university was to Dick. We know how important the state was to Dick.”

It’s been great, Josh and Bobby bent over backwards to bring it back here and we have obviously, my dad was always proud of the two winners, Dana and Kevin,” Dick Butkus’ son Matt said.

“I’m glad to bring it home, hopefully we can do more.”

The last Illini to win the award back in 1995, Kevin Hardy was on hand for the ceremony alongside Dana Howard, who won it the year prior.

Hardy said that trophy marks an important time in his life.

“Obviously I came here and had a had a good career and good enough that I was able to win the Butkus award,” Hardy said.

“And so, you know, as I look at how my life unfolded, you know, playing NFL, this place is special because this is where I got my start and winning the Butkus Award is one of those things that, you know, you never forget it, It’s a lifetime achievement.”

Georgia’s Jalon Walker and future Nebraska linebacker Christian Jones accepted the award at college and high school levels, proud to have their play associated with the Butkus name.

“He’s an icon at his position,” Walker said.

“He’s the mentality and tenaciousness that he needs to be able to be a linebacker exemplifies himself,” Walker said.

“It’s just a great honor for me to be able to follow his foot steps.”

“Just how violent he was, how much violence he had when he hit someone,” Jones said.

“That’s the one thing that sticks out to me was the violence he had.”

There is a third Butkus Award that recognizes pro football’s top linebacker.

This year’s recipient has yet to be announced, but former Chicago Bear and current Baltimore Raven Roquan Smith has won it each of the previous two seasons.