The six finalists for the Butkus Award were announced today and Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons was one of those six. The award is handed out annually to the nations top linebacker and is usually given out the week after conference championship games are played.
The other five finalists were:
- Zack Baun, Wisconsin
- Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
- Micah Parsons, Penn State
- Evan Weaver, Cal
- Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Simmons has registered 74 tackles on the season so far. He leads the team with 12 TFL, 12 QB pressures, and six sacks.
Simmons is the prototype for what Brent Venables wants in a SAM linebacker. BV has had him line up all over the field. He’s played safety, he’s played linebacker, and he’s even lined up as an edge rusher at times.
There’s no other defensive player in the nation as versatile and effective as Simmons. Not only is he the nation’s best backer, he’s the best defensive player period. Sorry, this one should be a no brainer.
Just one of many examples why….
So the Tigers have been playing Isaiah Simmons at free safety more this year because blocking schemes don’t account for safeties the same way. It’s working. pic.twitter.com/jX4YF1642Q
— Khalil Macktion (@dbbm52) November 25, 2019
Here’s another….
It’s very funny watching him spy QB’s. He leads the team in sacks and a lot of them look like this pic.twitter.com/fHVQ838GN7
— Khalil Macktion (@dbbm52) November 25, 2019
