CHICAGO – LSU senior linebacker Kendell Beckwith has been named a semi-finalist for the 2016 Butkus Award the organization announced on Monday as the committee whittled down the list that started with 51 names to the 12 remaining as semifinalists.
Beckwith, who was named to the watch list for the second consecutive year back in July, leads LSU with 69 tackles on the season, averaging 9.9 per game which is currently second overall in the SEC and 17th overall nationally.
The Clinton, Louisiana, native has two double figure tackle games on the season so far through 2016 and has seven for his career which is the most among defenders currently on the squad. Against Southern Miss, Beckwith earned a career-high 15 tackles, tying for the team individual game season high on the year.
The Butkus Award is in its 32nd year of honoring the nation’s top collegiate and high school linebackers and is voted on by a panel of coaches, scouts and journalists.
Finalists in both divisions will be announced November 21, and winners will be announced on or before December 6.
LSU returns to action on Saturday night, hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide at 7 p.m. on CBS.