PSU senior Ebel named to the Butkus Award Watchlist
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STATE COLLEGE -- Penn State senior linebacker Kooper Ebel was selected to the Butkus Award watch list on Thursday.
The Butkus Award, in its 42nd year, is presented to the top linebacker in the country.
Ebel Earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2024 and was tabbed Academic All-Big 12 in 2024.
He played in 34 games and made 27 starts in his career and has collected 149 tackles (73 solo), 14 tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and three pass breakups.
In 2025, posted 77 tackles (38 solo), eight tackles for loss, one sack and three pass breakups. Ebel registered 69 tackles (32 solo), six tackles for loss and one sack in 2024.
The Butkus Award is named in honor of the late Dick Butkus. The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists, guides the selection process, emphasizing qualities that defined Butkus' career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills.
The award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball, on their feet, in a two-point stance in traditional form.
Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on October 28 and finalists on November 20. The winner will be revealed during the week of December 7.