Shazier Named Butkus Award Semifinalist – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 28, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior linebacker Ryan Shazier has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s outstanding linebacker. The 12 semifinalists were announced today by the Butkus Foundation.
Shazier, who is also under consideration for the Lott IMPACT Award this season, leads the Buckeyes in tackles with 66 and he is tied with Noah Spence for the team lead with 9.0 tackles for loss. The TFL total is the most in the Big Ten Conference, and his 66 tackles and 8.2 per game average rank sixth in the Big Ten. He also has 2.0 sacks, a pass break-up and two forced fumbles.
A Plantation High School graduate from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Shazier has led the Buckeyes in tackles in 15 of his 23 starts. He enters the Purdue game with team-leading career totals of 238 tackles, 31 TFLs, 10 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
Butkus Award finalists will be announced Nov. 26 with the winner being named Dec. 10.
