Michigan State University Athletics
Harris Named To Butkus Award Watch List
7/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" Michigan State fifth-year senior Darien Harris, who set career highs for tackles (48) and tackles for loss (3.5 for 9 yards) last season, has been named to the 2015 preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, presented to college football's best linebacker since 1985. The 51-player Butkus Award Watch List features eight players from the Big Ten.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Harris started 11 of 13 games at Star linebacker in 2014 and finished fifth on the team with a career-high 48 tackles (26 solos, 22 assists). He ranked eighth on the team during the regular season with 107 production points and tied for team lead with two forced fumbles.
"Darien Harris is one of the top leaders not only on our defense but on our entire team," MSU co-defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett said. "He's well respected by his teammates. Darien is a smart football player and an outstanding tackler."
Harris posted four stops and forced a fumble against Rutgers. He had three tackles, including a half tackle for loss, and a pass break-up at Maryland. Harris made five stops against No. 14 Ohio State. He matched his career high with seven tackles, including one for a 1-yard loss, and was credited with a quarterback hurry against Michigan.
The Silver Spring, Maryland, native recorded a career-best 24 production points at Purdue, including six tackles, with one resulting in a 2-yard loss. Harris returned his first career interception 15 yards for a touchdown with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter to ice MSU's 45-31 victory.
He registered a career-high seven tackles, recovered one fumble and forced another fumble to account for 19 production points against Wyoming. Harris contributed three stops at No. 3 Oregon. He led the Spartans with five tackles, including a half sack (5 yards), and was credited with a QB hurry in the season opener against Jacksonville State.
In 40 career games, Harris has totaled 64 tackles (31 solos, 33 assists), including 4.0 behind the line of scrimmage (9 yards).
Harris is attempting to become the ninth Big Ten linebacker and only the second Spartan to win the Butkus Award, joining Percy Snow who was presented the trophy in 1989.
The award is named in honor of College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, a three-time letterman (1962-64) and two-time All-American (1963-64) for Coach Pete Elliott at Illinois. Butkus still ranks No. 8 on the Illini's all-time list with 374 career tackles, averaging 14.4 tackles in 26 career games. As a junior in 1963, he was presented the Silver Football Award as the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player, leading the Illini to an 8-1-1 record, including a 17-7 victory over Washington in the 1964 Rose Bowl. As a senior in 1964, Butkus was selected National Player of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and finished third in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy.
Butkus was selected third overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1965 National Football League Draft. He played nine seasons in the pros, recording 22 career interceptions and recovering 27 fumbles. Butkus made eight-straight appearances in the Pro Bowl and earned All-NFL honors six times. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, in 1969-70. Butkus was selected to the NFL's All-Decade Teams in the 1960s and 1970s, NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the All-Time NFL Team, announced in 2000.
The Butkus Award is selected by a 51-person panel comprised of scouts, coaches and journalists. Semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 2, finalists on Nov. 23, with the winner notified by Dec. 8.
