Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith is one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, as announced Monday. The award is annually presented to college football’s best linebacker.

This season, Smith already has 52 tackles, two sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble under his belt. With tough matchups against Michigan and Michigan State looming, Penn State’s defense will need Smith to continue playing at a high level.

This is not the first recognition the former five-star recruit has received this season. Following his standout performance against Auburn in this year’s White Out, Smith was named that week’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Smith was not the only linebacker representing the Big Ten on the list of semifinalists. Jack Campbell (Iowa) and Olakunle Fatukasi (Rutgers) were also honored. Only the Pac-12 had more representation with four semifinalists.

Since the award’s creation in 1985, two Nittany Lion legends, LaVar Arrington and Paul Posluzsny, have won it.

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Sam Fremin

Sam is a senior from Ashburn, Virginia, majoring in journalism and political science & minoring in German and creative writing. He is a Dallas Cowboys fan who relishes the misery of Eagles fans. All hate messages can be sent to sam@onwardstate.com or @SamFremin on Twitter.

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