Duo Named to Butkus Award Watch List
July 22, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications
CHICAGO – One of the top linebacker duos in the country, juniors Erroll Thompson and Willie Gay Jr., landed on the preseason watch list for the 35th annual Butkus Award on Monday morning.
MSU, Alabama and LSU are the SEC programs with multiple players on the list.
A smart, instinctive, hard-hitting playmaker, Thompson enters 2019 with 133 total tackles, including 14.5 for loss and six sacks, in 26 games played. He has started 16 straight games, including all 13 last season for the nation's top-ranked defense. The Florence, Alabama, product was voted the defensive team captain for the 2019 season by his teammates. Last season, Thompson ranked second on the team in total tackles (87), tied for third in tackles for loss (9.0), added 3.5 sacks and collected a pair of interceptions. He earned second-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press for his efforts. Thompson is also a candidate for the Bednarik Award, which has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. He was named preseason first-team All-SEC by media following SEC Media Days last week.
Using his speed to wreak havoc in coverage, Gay played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2018 and earned a starting role midway through the season. The Starkville product collected 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery. Targeted 20 times, Gay reeled in two interceptions and forced a pass breakup. He allowed just 5.3 yards per reception, earning a 90.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
Semifinalists for the award will be named Nov. 4, finalists Nov. 25, and the winner on or before Dec. 10.
State opens preseason camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in New Orleans. Tickets for the 2019 season and opener can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Mississippi State on 2019 Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Bednarik Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Doak Walker Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Rimington Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
John Mackey Award
Farrod Green, Sr., TE
Butkus Award Watch List
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Willie Gay Jr., Jr., LB
Jim Thorpe Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
2019 Butkus Award Watch List
Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, Purdue
Mohamed Barry, Nebraska
Zack Baun, Wisconsin
Tuf Borland, Ohio State
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Cameron Brown, Penn State
T.J. Brunson, South Carolina
Calvin Bundage, Oklahoma State
K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
Michael Divinity Jr., LSU
Troy Dye, Oregon
Tony Fields II, Arizona
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
Cale Garrett, Missouri
Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
Malik Harrison, Ohio State
Khaleke Hudson, Michigan
Dontavious Jackson, Florida State
Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Clay Johnston, Baylor
Nate Landman, Colorado
Sage Lewis, FIU
Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Kamal Martin, Minnesota
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Dante Olson, Montana
Micah Parsons, Penn State
Jacob Phillips, LSU
Michael Pickney, Miami (Fla.)
Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (Fla.)
Patrick Queen, LSU
Chapelle Russell, Temple
Mohamed Sanogo, Mississippi
Colin Schooler, Arizona
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Charles Snowden, Virginia
Justin Strnad, Wake Forest
Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Davion Taylor, Colorado
Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
Joshua Uche, Michigan
Mykal Walker, Fresno State
Evan Weaver, California
Javin White, UNLV
Logan Wilson, Wyoming
David Woodward, Utah State
CHICAGO – One of the top linebacker duos in the country, juniors Erroll Thompson and Willie Gay Jr., landed on the preseason watch list for the 35th annual Butkus Award on Monday morning.
MSU, Alabama and LSU are the SEC programs with multiple players on the list.
A smart, instinctive, hard-hitting playmaker, Thompson enters 2019 with 133 total tackles, including 14.5 for loss and six sacks, in 26 games played. He has started 16 straight games, including all 13 last season for the nation's top-ranked defense. The Florence, Alabama, product was voted the defensive team captain for the 2019 season by his teammates. Last season, Thompson ranked second on the team in total tackles (87), tied for third in tackles for loss (9.0), added 3.5 sacks and collected a pair of interceptions. He earned second-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press for his efforts. Thompson is also a candidate for the Bednarik Award, which has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. He was named preseason first-team All-SEC by media following SEC Media Days last week.
Using his speed to wreak havoc in coverage, Gay played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2018 and earned a starting role midway through the season. The Starkville product collected 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery. Targeted 20 times, Gay reeled in two interceptions and forced a pass breakup. He allowed just 5.3 yards per reception, earning a 90.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
Semifinalists for the award will be named Nov. 4, finalists Nov. 25, and the winner on or before Dec. 10.
State opens preseason camp on Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in New Orleans. Tickets for the 2019 season and opener can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
Mississippi State on 2019 Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Bednarik Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Doak Walker Award
Kylin Hill, Jr., RB
Rimington Trophy
Darryl Williams, Sr., C
John Mackey Award
Farrod Green, Sr., TE
Butkus Award Watch List
Erroll Thompson, Jr., LB
Willie Gay Jr., Jr., LB
Jim Thorpe Award
Cameron Dantzler, Jr., CB
2019 Butkus Award Watch List
Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, Purdue
Mohamed Barry, Nebraska
Zack Baun, Wisconsin
Tuf Borland, Ohio State
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Cameron Brown, Penn State
T.J. Brunson, South Carolina
Calvin Bundage, Oklahoma State
K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
Michael Divinity Jr., LSU
Troy Dye, Oregon
Tony Fields II, Arizona
Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
Cale Garrett, Missouri
Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
Malik Harrison, Ohio State
Khaleke Hudson, Michigan
Dontavious Jackson, Florida State
Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Clay Johnston, Baylor
Nate Landman, Colorado
Sage Lewis, FIU
Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Kamal Martin, Minnesota
Dylan Moses, Alabama
Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Dante Olson, Montana
Micah Parsons, Penn State
Jacob Phillips, LSU
Michael Pickney, Miami (Fla.)
Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (Fla.)
Patrick Queen, LSU
Chapelle Russell, Temple
Mohamed Sanogo, Mississippi
Colin Schooler, Arizona
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Charles Snowden, Virginia
Justin Strnad, Wake Forest
Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Davion Taylor, Colorado
Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State
Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
Joshua Uche, Michigan
Mykal Walker, Fresno State
Evan Weaver, California
Javin White, UNLV
Logan Wilson, Wyoming
David Woodward, Utah State
Players Mentioned
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