Illini LB Jake Hansen Nominated To Butkus Award Watch List
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Butkus Award has a special meaning for the University of Illinois.
Symbolic of the nation’s top collegiate linebacker, the Butkus Award was named after former Illinois All-American linebacker Dick Butkus. A current Illinois linebacker, Jake Hansen, was one of 51 players named to the watch list for the award named after arguably the greatest Illini defensive player.
Hansen, who is expected to slide in at middle linebacker on Lovie Smith’s defense this season for the Illini, was a third-team selection by Athlon’s after the 2019 Butkus Award semifinalist had 72 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one interception, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries despite missing four games due to injury.
At one point last season, Hansen led the nation with seven forced fumbles and ranked second in the country with three fumble recoveries. He is the No. 11 graded linebacker in the nation by Pro Football Focus (81.1) and No. 6 in Power-5. Hansen had one of his best games in Orange & Blue during the Illini's 24-23 upset over No. 6 Wisconsin that sparked Illinois' current three-game winning streak. He was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after two forced fumbles against the Badgers led Illinois to one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten Conference history.
Two Illini players have won the Butkus Award as Dana Howard and Kevin Hardy took home the award in back-to-back years of 1994 and 1995.
Dick Butkus (middle) poses for a photo with Kevin Hardy (left) and Dana Howard (right) during the 2016 Illinois Homecoming game in Champaign, Ill.
Photo provided by University of Illinois athletics department
Considered one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the game in both college and the National Football League, Butkus was a two-time All-America selection in back-to-back years of 1963 and 1964. Butkus, who had a statue of himself presented last fall before a home game against Michigan on Foundation Weekend on Oct. 12, was named the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Illini to the league championship.
Butkus, who was born and raised in a Chicago suburb, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being a six-time All-Pro selection with the Chicago Bears.
Butkus finished third in the 1964 Heisman Trophy voting and had his number, 50, retired at Illinois in 1986 and his professional jersey, No. 51, retired in Chicago in 1994.
Butkus helped lead the Illini to a 1964 Rose Bowl victory over Washington and was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection as a linebacker and center.
He finished his Illinois career with 373 tackles and was the 1964 National Player of the Year, as selected by the American Football Coaches Association.
Since 2008, the award was given out by The Butkus Foundation at a celebration in Chicago, Ill.