CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Nov 2, 2015) - Semi-finalists for the 31st annual Butkus Award® honoring the nation's best linebackers at the collegiate and high school levels were revealed today by the Butkus Foundation.

Ten linebackers from nine universities were named semi-finalists, including two high school Butkus Award winners, Jaylon Smith (2012) and Raekwon McMillan (2013).

Butkus Award 2015 Collegiate Semi-Finalists
Kendell Beckwith	Louisiana State University
Su'a Cravens	University of Southern California
Kyler Fackrell	Utah State University
Leonard Floyd	University of Georgia
Deion Jones	Louisiana State University
Blake Martinez	Stanford University
Raekwon McMillan	Ohio State University
Antonio Morrison	University of Florida
Reggie Ragland	University of Alabama
Jaylon Smith	University of Notre Dame

Sixteen linebackers from high schools in eight states were named as high school semi-finalists.

Butkus Award 2015 High School Semi-Finalists
Krys Barnes	Liberty High School, Bakersfield, Calif.
Tuf Borland	Bolingbrook High School, Ill.
Breland Brandt	Windward High School, Los Angeles, Calif.
Devin Bush	Flanagan High School, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Ben Davis	Gordo High School, Ala.
Michael Divinity	John Ehret High School, Marrero, La.
Brendan Ferns	Saint Clairsville High School, Ohio
Mique Juarez	North High School, Torrance, Calif.
Caleb Kelly	Clovis West High School, Fresno, Calif.
Tre Lamar	Roswell High School, Ga.
Shaquille Quarterman	Oakleaf High School, Orange Park, Fla.
Rahshaun Smith	IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Lokeni Toailoa	Wilmer Carter High School, Rialto, Calif.
Maxs Tupai	Murray High School, Salt Lake City, Utah
Devin White	North Webster High School, Springhill, La.
Lyndell Wilson	Carver Senior High School, Montgomery, Ala.

Finalists in both divisions will be announced November 23, and winners will be notified on or before December 8. The Pro Butkus Award winner will be announced in early 2016.   

Selection is handled by a panel of 51 coaches, recruiters, scouts and journalists who vote separately and confidentially using a 3-2-1 process. Selectors and selection criteria are posted at www.thebutkusaward.com.

The 2014 Butkus Award winners:

• Professional: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
• Collegiate: Eric Kendricks, UCLA (now Minnesota Vikings)
• High School: Malik Jefferson, Poteet, Mesquite, Tex. (now Texas)

The Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus' I Play Clean™ initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. More information is available at www.iplayclean.org and on facebook at i.play.clean.

The Butkus Award, www.thebutkusaward.com and on Facebook at 51.butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which includes the 22 most prestigious awards in college football with 700 years of selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.