Penn State linebacker Kobe King (41) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in College Park, Maryland. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State redshirt junior linebacker Kobe King was named to the Butkus Award Watch List on Tuesday.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s best linebacker.
Kobe King · R-Jr. · LB · 6-1 · 251 · Detroit, Michigan · Cass Tech
Received All-Big Ten honorable mention by coaches and media in 2023.
Has played in 30 games throughout his career and started 11 times.
Has 103 tackles (60 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in his career at Penn State.
· In 2023, he recorded 59 tackles (39 solo), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a QB hurry while starting 11 games at middle linebacker.
· According to Pro Football Focus, he led Big Ten linebackers with a run defense grade of 85.3 (minimum 200 run defense snaps).
· His run defense score of 85.3 ranked him ninth among FBS linebackers and third among Power Four linebackers.
· Finished third on the team with 27 solo tackles on running plays.
· Recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery at Illinois.
· Had two tackles for loss and a sack at Northwestern.
· Recorded nine tackles against Michigan.
· Made 10 stops against Rutgers, the most in his career.
· Made five solo tackles, including a tackle for a loss, against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.
The Butkus Award is named after the late Dick Butkus. The 51-member Butkus Award selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists, guides the selection process and emphasizes the qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, leadership on the field, competitiveness, football character and linebacker skills. The award has increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play without the ball, on their feet and in a traditional two-point stance.
The 51 linebackers on the watch list (a nod to Butkus’s jersey number 51) will be whittled down to a list of semifinalists on Nov. 4. The finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Nov. 25, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 10.
Penn State Football listed on preseason watch lists:
Drew Allar – Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award
Kaytron Allen – Doak Walker Award
Abdul Carter – Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
Dani Dennis-Sutton – Lott IMPACT Trophy
Tyler Duzansky – Mannelly Award
Kobe King – Butkus Award
Chase Meyer – Lou Groza Award
Nicholas Singleton – Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
Riley Thompson – Ray Guy Award
Tyler Warren – Mackey Award
Kevin Winston Jr. – Bednarik Prize
Sal Wormley – Outland Trophy
Penn State’s season opener at West Virginia on Aug. 31 will be televised at noon on FOX. The Nittany Lions return 42 key players from last year’s roster – 17 on offense, 22 on defense and three on special teams. They also return 16 starters – seven on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.
