Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider linebacker trio lands on Butkus list
August 13, 2026 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Butkus Foundation announced Thursday its preseason watch list for the 42nd annual Butkus Award, with Texas Tech linebackers John Curry, Ben Roberts and Austin Romaine among the 51 players recognized. The annual award is presented to the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
Texas Tech is the reigning program winner of the Butkus Award after Jacob Rodriguez claimed the honor in 2025. Rodriguez is now with the Miami Dolphins, while his former teammates Curry, Roberts and Romaine will look to give the Red Raiders back-to-back Butkus Award winners in 2026. Texas Tech is the only program in the country with three players on this year's watch list. Seven other programs have two players on the list – Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Tennessee – while 34 additional schools have one representative.
"Every player on this watch list has earned the opportunity to compete for one of football's highest honors," said Matt Butkus of the Butkus Foundation. "My Dad believed great linebackers changed games through preparation, toughness, intelligence, and relentless effort. Those qualities still define this Award today. Through Takes Heart, we're proud that his legacy continues to make a difference beyond football by encouraging people to take charge of their heart health through early detection and prevention."
Semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award will be announced Oct. 28, finalists on Nov. 20, and the winner will be revealed during the week of Dec. 7. Selection is based on performance throughout the season, and appearance on the preseason watch list is not required for a player to win the award.
The 51-member Butkus Award Selection Committee is composed of coaches, professional scouts, former players and members of the media from across the country. Committee members evaluate candidates using the same qualities that defined Dick Butkus throughout his career: instincts, toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character and consistent excellence at the linebacker position.
The recipient will be recognized during the Butkus Award celebration in early 2027 and featured in the annual Big Ten Network Butkus Award special.
About the Butkus Award/NCFAA
The 51-player watch list honors Dick Butkus' iconic No. 51 jersey and recognizes the toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness and football character that defined one of the greatest defensive players in football history. The Butkus Award remains one of college football's most respected individual honors, recognizing linebackers whose performance reflects the standard established by Dick Butkus more than six decades ago at the University of Illinois and throughout his Hall of Fame NFL career.
The Foundation also announced that its Takes Heart™ partnership with Carle Illinois College of Medicine will again be featured during the annual Butkus Award television special on the Big Ten Network.
The Butkus Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. It is one of 16 NCFAA members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Texas Tech is the reigning program winner of the Butkus Award after Jacob Rodriguez claimed the honor in 2025. Rodriguez is now with the Miami Dolphins, while his former teammates Curry, Roberts and Romaine will look to give the Red Raiders back-to-back Butkus Award winners in 2026. Texas Tech is the only program in the country with three players on this year's watch list. Seven other programs have two players on the list – Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Tennessee – while 34 additional schools have one representative.
"Every player on this watch list has earned the opportunity to compete for one of football's highest honors," said Matt Butkus of the Butkus Foundation. "My Dad believed great linebackers changed games through preparation, toughness, intelligence, and relentless effort. Those qualities still define this Award today. Through Takes Heart, we're proud that his legacy continues to make a difference beyond football by encouraging people to take charge of their heart health through early detection and prevention."
Semifinalists for the 2026 Butkus Award will be announced Oct. 28, finalists on Nov. 20, and the winner will be revealed during the week of Dec. 7. Selection is based on performance throughout the season, and appearance on the preseason watch list is not required for a player to win the award.
The 51-member Butkus Award Selection Committee is composed of coaches, professional scouts, former players and members of the media from across the country. Committee members evaluate candidates using the same qualities that defined Dick Butkus throughout his career: instincts, toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character and consistent excellence at the linebacker position.
The recipient will be recognized during the Butkus Award celebration in early 2027 and featured in the annual Big Ten Network Butkus Award special.
About the Butkus Award/NCFAA
The 51-player watch list honors Dick Butkus' iconic No. 51 jersey and recognizes the toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness and football character that defined one of the greatest defensive players in football history. The Butkus Award remains one of college football's most respected individual honors, recognizing linebackers whose performance reflects the standard established by Dick Butkus more than six decades ago at the University of Illinois and throughout his Hall of Fame NFL career.
The Foundation also announced that its Takes Heart™ partnership with Carle Illinois College of Medicine will again be featured during the annual Butkus Award television special on the Big Ten Network.
The Butkus Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. It is one of 16 NCFAA members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
- Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award
- Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award
- Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award
- Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award
- Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award
- Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13