Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker named as semifinalist for prestigious award

The Ohio State Buckeyes‘the defense completely flipped the script after the team’s tough loss to the Oregon Ducks, thanks to veteran leadership in the front seven.

One of the key contributors to this effort was linebacker Sony styleswho was recently named a semifinalist for the acclaimed Butkus Award.

Styles, a former five-star safety turned linebacker, has been electric this season. The Ohio native has recorded 52 total tackles in 2024 while maintaining a defense grade of 78.6. according to PFF. Despite it being Styles’ first season at the linebacker position, he and old Buckeye Cody Simon have been a dynamic duo all season.

The last time an Ohio State linebacker won the Butkus Award was in 2007 with James Laurinaitis. He was one of two former Buckeye linebackers to ever receive the award, as Andy Katzenmoyer won it in 1997.

Named after Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, the Butkus Prize “is one of the elite individual honors, originally awarded to one player in college football each year: the most impactful linebacker in the game.” Many recipients of the prestigious award have had incredible careers in the NFL, such as Eric Kendricks, Von Miller and Luke Kuechly.

Along with Styles, Iowa’s Jay Higgins and Indiana’s Aiden Fisher are the two other players to reach the Big Ten Conference semifinals. The Buckeyes’ talented linebacker will play four games in November to increase his chances of winning the award.