Three Duke Recruits Named to High School Butkus Award Watch List

The Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s best linebackers, released its preseason watch lists for college and high school players.

The High School Butkus Award watch list includes candidates from 47 secondary schools across 21 states.

Semi-finalists are expected to be named November 2, finalists November 23, and winners on or before December 8. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.

Three players being recruited by Duke were named to the high school watch list.

Ethan Calvert: The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder from Westlake Village, California’s Oaks Christian High plays both ways for his high school team, lining up at outside linebacker on defense and wide receiver on offense. He’s a Sports Illustrated All-American candidate. SIAA’s evaluation says Calvert “has the look and game of an old school inside linebacker with plenty of flashy traits along the way. He can thrive in the A and B gaps with downhill execution and hold his own as an underneath defender against the pass. But when it comes to projecting him at the collegiate level, he is a see ball, get ball linebacker with great fundamentals and plenty of pop to build upon.”

Duke is one of more than 20 teams to have offered Calvert a scholarship. UCLA, USC, Washington, Stanford and LSU are considered the leaders.

Smael Mondon: The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder from Dallas, Georgia’s Paulding County High also plays running back for his high school team. He’s a Sports Illustrated All-American candidate. SIAA’s evaluation pegs Mondon as “a do-it-all linebacker prospect ready to make plays all over the field at the collegiate level right now. He physically profiles as a three-down player with disruptive polish in space, ideal for today’s college game. It would be surprising to see Mondon spend much time on the sidelines over the next decade or so.” Duke has offered him, but the Blue Devils will need to beat out Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Oklahoma.

Prince Kollie: The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder from Jonesborough, Tennessee’s David Crockett High has garnered interest from Duke, but the Blue Devils haven’t offered a scholarship. Nearly three dozen teams have, including Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Louisville.

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