FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders was named a semifinalist for two national awards Tuesday.
Sanders is among 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award and one of 15 semifinalists for the Butkus Award. The Bednarik Award is presented to college football's best defensive player, and the Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker.
In his first season at Arkansas after transferring from Alabama, Sanders has recorded 65 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks through 8 games. He leads the SEC in sacks and forced fumbles (3), and was named national linebacker of the month in September by the Butkus Award.
Sanders was named national defensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation on Sept. 11 following a game against South Carolina in which he recorded 11 tackles and 2 sacks, and forced 2 fumbles.
Sanders is the first Arkansas player to be named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award since linebacker Sam Olajubutu in 2006. He is the second Razorback in three seasons to be named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, along with Grant Morgan in 2020.
No Razorback has won either award. The Butkus Award was established in 1985 and the Bednarik has been presented since 1995.
Both awards are named for College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebackers. Dick Butkus played college football at Illinois and in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, and Chuck Bednarik played college football at Pennsylvania and for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
Three finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced Nov. 21, and three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced the following day. Winners of both awards will be announced in early December.
Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State
Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Jason Henderson, LB, Old Dominion
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Mike Morris, DE, Michigan
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Ivan Pace, LB, Cincinnati
Clark Phillips, CB, Utah
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Christopher Smith, S, Georgia
John Torchio, S, Wisconsin
Tuli Tuipolotu, DT, Southern Cal
Tyree Wilson, LB, Texas Tech
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Butkus Award Semifinalists
Jack Campbell, Iowa
SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
Dayian Henley, Washington State
Mikel Jones, Syracuse
Jackson Mitchell, Connecticut
DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Noah Sewell, Oregon
Trinton Simpson, Clemson
DeAndre Square, Kentucky
Henry To’o To’o, Alabama