Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman a Butkus Award Finalist

The Sooners' senior linebacker is among the nation's leaders in tackles and was one of five finalists named for this year's trophy.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) is tackled by Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman. / William Purnell-Imagn Images

Danny Stutsman returned to Oklahoma for his senior year for moments like this.

Two days after finishing his playing days at OU with a stunning Senior Night upset of No. 7 Alabama, Stutsman was named one of five finalists for the 40th annual Butkus Award.

The Butkus Award is given annually to the top linebacker in college football and is named after college and pro linebacker legend Dick Butkus.

OU’s heritage with the award is deep and wide. Brian Bosworth received the inaugural Butkus Award in 1985, then repeated as the winner in 1986 — and remains the only two-time winner. In 2001, Rocky Calmus took home the Butkus, and Teddy Lehman won it in 2003.

Stutsman is a finalist alongside Clemson’s Barrett Carter, Mississippi’s Chris Paul, UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger and Georgia’s Jalon Walker. Among the finalists, only Schwesinger (109) has more total tackles this season than Stutsman.

Stutsman has two games left in his college career, starting with this weekend's trip to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. Stutsman's 2024 tackles tally stands at 100, his third straight year over 100 tackles. Stutsman currently ranks in the top 15 nationally in total tackles. He's also moved up to ninth place in OU history in career tackles. He also has 7.5 tackles for loss this season.

The winner of the 2024 Butkus Award winner will be announced on Dec. 10, and the ceremony is planned for Feb. 1 at the University of Illinois, where Butkus became a household name prior to his Hall of Fame NFL career with the Chicago Bears.

The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee comprised or coaches, scouts and journalists aides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus' career: toughness on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The Award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet.

In 2008, The Butkus Foundation took stewardship of the award to fully realize the original purpose of honoring athletic achievement and service to the community. Since that time, the award has honored the nation's best high school, college and professional linebackers.

A fourth-year player from Windermere, Fla., Stutsman has started all 11 contests at middle linebacker and ranks fourth in the SEC and 21st nationally with his team-high 100 total tackles. He also ranks fourth in the SEC and 22nd nationally by averaging 9.1 tackles per game. He has registered 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack and three QB hurries this season. He has logged double-digit tackles four times this season and at least 15 tackles three times, and has led the Sooners in tackles in seven of 11 games this year.

Against Missouri on Nov. 9, Stutsman logged a career-high 19 tackles, including 10 in the first half. His 19 tackles were the most by a Sooner since the 2018 season. Stutsman was named a midseason first-team All-American by the Associated Press, CBS Sports and the Senior Bowl, and was recognized as a midseason second-team All-American by The Athletic and Athlon Sports.

Stutsman has played in 46 career games and started each of his last 36 (all over the last three seasons), totaling 367 career tackles to rank ninth in Oklahoma history. His 35.5 career tackles for loss rank him seventh among OU inside linebackers (he needs 1.5 to move into the top four). Stutsman has also totaled 8.0 career sacks and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. With 100 tackles this season, he has registered triple-digit tackles in three consecutive campaigns. He is the first Sooner with triple-digit tackles in three consecutive seasons since Travis Lewis from 2008-10.

Stutsman established himself as a great teammate, leader and community citizen early in his career. He was first voted as a permanent team captain at the end of his sophomore season in 2022, and then again in 2023. He has served as a game captain nine times over the last three seasons, including five times this year. Earlier this fall, Stutsman donated a portion of his NIL earnings to several of the team’s walk-on players in recognition of their hard work and value to the program.

OU Media Relations contributed to this report.