SacFalcFan Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Georgia junior Roquan Smith has become the first Bulldog to win the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker.Smith, a native of Montezuma, Ga., garnered 60 percent of the first-place votes and 40 percent of the overall weighted vote, which is a greater margin than any linebacker in the past decade. He was chosen from the other finalists of Michigan’s Devin Bush, Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, Wisconsin’s T.J. Edwards and Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel, according to an announcement from the Butkus Foundation. Smith is the first Georgia player to win the Butkus Award in its 33-year history since 1985. There have been three other Bulldog finalists four different years in recent history, including Leonard Floyd (2015), Jarvis Jones (2011, 2012) and Justin Houston (2010)."Roquan Smith proved to be the overwhelming favorite in this year's collegiate linebacking class,” according to the award selection committee. “He's always around the ball and is very tough, fast and instinctive, with exceptional football reflexes. He makes his presence felt all over the field and hits with the type of explosion that has come to define the Butkus Award. As terrific of a football player as he is, Roquan is highly regarded by teammates, coaches and support staff for his intelligence, intensity and leadership traits.”Also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, Smith has earned midseason All-American honors by leading the team for a second year in a row with 113 tackles (8.7 tackles/game) during Georgia’s 12-1 campaign, highlighted by its 13th Southeastern Conference title and first since 2005 this past weekend. Smith has added 10.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble to lead the Bulldogs. With the help from Butkus Award semifinalist Lorenzo Carter, Georgia ranks second nationally in Passing Yards Allowed (158.3 yards/game), third in Scoring Defense (13.8 points/game) and fourth in Total Defense (270.9 yards/game).Georgia has held its last three opponents to a combined seven points in the second half, including the Bulldogs’ 28-7 rout of second-ranked Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. In addition, Georgia blanked Tennessee 41-0 during the regular season, snapping the nation’s fourth-longest active scoring streak and the sixth-longest streak in college football history. The third-ranked Bulldogs (12-1) travel to Pasadena, Calif., to face second-ranked Oklahoma (12-1) in the College Football Playoff’s semifinal round in the Rose Bowl on Monday, January 1. Kickoff is at 5:10 p.m. ET.The Butkus Award selection committee is comprised of 51 football coaches, recruiters, talent scouts and journalists who study football talent yearlong. Selectors are asked to recognize qualities that defined Butkus’ career; toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character, and linebacking skills. Selectors follow a 3-2-1 voting procedure for five named finalists or any linebacker they choose to write in.The 2017 high school winner is Solomon Tuliaupupu of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. The 2017 pro winner will be announced after the NFL season, succeeding 2016 winner Khalil Mack of the Oakland Raiders.The Butkus Award is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization which advances health and wellness through special initiatives including the I Play Clean® program. The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NFCAA), which includes 23 awards honoring 800 indi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTrue7 Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 By far most deserving.. Congrats and here's to hoping he stays in red and black.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SacFalcFan Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 Roquan IS the best linebacker in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbigdog35 Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 No doubt the young man is a game changer and has a bright future. Concur with true7 that when he goes to the next level it's still red and black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 So glad he came to Athens instead of going out to UCLA. I’m glad he got awarded for what we already know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphibianDawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconsIn2012 Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Such a humble and deserving young man. Would love to see him in a Falcons uni but he will be long gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Dawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 19 minutes ago, Falconsin2012 said: Such a humble and deserving young man. Would love to see him in a Falcons uni but he will be long gone. No way. Dolphins all the way and maybe will be picking at the right spot. Let me dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconsIn2012 Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 5 minutes ago, 95Dawg said: No way. Dolphins all the way and maybe will be picking at the right spot. Let me dream I live in Naples, Fl so I would not mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankly88 Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Just a heat-seeking misslile! Well deserved!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carter Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 My favorite Dawg on defense since Jarvis Jones. Roquan is an amazing player and young man. He is so much fun to watch, just a flat out beast. Well deserved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fibonaccisquared Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 3 hours ago, Carter said: My favorite Dawg on defense since Jarvis Jones. Roquan is an amazing player and young man. He is so much fun to watch, just a flat out beast. Well deserved! Same. Ended up hanging out with Jarvis MF Jones down in Orlando while he was getting ready for the draft a bit... Still one of my all time faves. Roquan is incredible though. So excited for his future after he helps us get to the promised land this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carter Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iDash Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 He deserves it! Way to go, Ga Boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Roquan Smith - Is he the best LB in UGA History? He single handily wrecked Tech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdogg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Hope some how the Falcons land him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Dawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Dawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawDawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 And to think he almost ended up at UCLA. Congrats, Roquan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransack Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Well deserved. All SEC, All American, Nagurski, Bedarnik coming up next. Clean sweep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SacFalcFan Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 49 minutes ago, LawDawg said: And to think he almost ended up at UCLA. Congrats, Roquan! yep.. thanks to the Atlanta Falcons.. lolol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Francis Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I just saw this. That’s great news. He’s very deserving. Good recruiting job by Richt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphibianDawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Man, Roquan is getting a lot of well-deserved airtime. I couldn't be happier for him. Cool that he'll get the chance to play in the Rose Bowl even after decommitting from UCLA to stay home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphibianDawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Two all-time greats right there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Dawg Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 33 minutes ago, MemphibianDawg said: Two all-time greats right there! Two DGDs. Roquan just mirror your life after TD and all will be alright. Hope he gave you some good pointers about financial planners in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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