The Butkus Foundation named Illinois senior LB Jake Hansen to the Butkus Award watch list. It is the second career watch list for Hansen, who is on the Bednarik 2020 watch list and was a Butkus Award semifinalist in 2019.

The Dick Butkus Award

The award is given annually to the nation's best linebacker by the Butkus Foundation. It is named in honor of Illinois Alum, College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.

• Full Watch List
• Last three winners: Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), Devin White (LSU),  Roquan Smith (Georgia)

Jake Hansen | Butkus Award Watch List

• 2020 Bednarik Watch List
• 2019 Butkus Award Semifinalist
• 2019 All Big-Ten honorable mention (coaches)
• 2019 All-Big Ten honorable mention (media) 
• Eight career forced fumbles are fourth-most in program history (dating back to 1990)
• 72 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for the 2019 season
• Led the nation in forced fumbles (7) and ranked fifth in fumbles recovered (3) for the 2019 season
• Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after two forced fumbles vs. No. 6 Wisconsin 10/19/19 to help Illinois win 24-23 and complete one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten History
• Tied for the Illinois lead in tackles (95) and led Illinois in solo tackles (48) in 2018
• 6.0 TFLs against Kent State 9/1/18 tied for the seventh-most in Big Ten history
• Won team's Bruce Capel Award for courage in 2018

Illini on Watch Lists (As of July 20)

» Jake Hansen - Bednarik Award (DPOY), Butkus Award (LB)