Bachie Named to Butkus Award Watch List, Scott Tabbed to Thorpe Award Watch List
7/22/2019 1:14:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie has been named to the 2019 Butkus Award Watch List, while defensive back Josiah Scott has been named to the 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, as both were announced Monday.
Bachie is one of 51 players on the preseason list for the Butkus Award, given annually to the best linebacker in college football.
Scott is one of 46 players on the preseason list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, which annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football.
Bachie, who has started 26 consecutive games at middle linebacker, has been named to numerous preseason All-America lists, including first-team recognition from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. The Spartan senior linebacker also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades and named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
He has led the Spartans in tackles the past two seasons (100 in 2017; 102 in 2018) and last year he became the third Spartan middle linebacker under Mark Dantonio, joining Greg Jones and Max Bullough, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
A consistent playmaker, Bachie had 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery during his junior campaign. He earned the Downtown Coaches Club Award for the most outstanding Spartan player on defense.
The Brook Park, Ohio, product started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017. He led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.) and was named the recipient of the 2017 Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.
In 32 career games, Bachie has 214 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He previously was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List in May.
Scott missed the first eight games of the 2018 season, before a smashing return to action, starting the final five games of the year. He adds to his preseason recognition list, as he was also a preseason All-Big Ten selection by Athlon Sports (first team) and Phil Steele (second team).
Last season, Scott still ranked fourth on the team with seven pass break-ups and tied for team lead with two interceptions, tallying 13 total tackles.
Scott, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, was named the Redbox Bowl Defensive MVP after recording a career-high four pass break-ups in addition to three tackles, including one for an 8-yard loss, against Oregon. Scott also collected Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after his performance against Rutgers, snaring a career-high two interceptions to go with three tackles in start against the Scarlet Knights, with one interception coming with 1:32 to play in the game at the MSU 6 as Rutgers was driving for the possible game-winning score.
Other standout games for Scott last season included tallying two tackles to go with one pass break-up at Nebraska, as well as posting five tackles and one pass break-up vs. Ohio State.
Bachie is one of 51 players on the preseason list for the Butkus Award, given annually to the best linebacker in college football.
Scott is one of 46 players on the preseason list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, which annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football.
Bachie, who has started 26 consecutive games at middle linebacker, has been named to numerous preseason All-America lists, including first-team recognition from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. The Spartan senior linebacker also earned Preseason All-Big Ten accolades and named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
He has led the Spartans in tackles the past two seasons (100 in 2017; 102 in 2018) and last year he became the third Spartan middle linebacker under Mark Dantonio, joining Greg Jones and Max Bullough, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors.
A consistent playmaker, Bachie had 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery during his junior campaign. He earned the Downtown Coaches Club Award for the most outstanding Spartan player on defense.
The Brook Park, Ohio, product started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017. He led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.) and was named the recipient of the 2017 Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.
In 32 career games, Bachie has 214 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, seven pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He previously was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List in May.
Scott missed the first eight games of the 2018 season, before a smashing return to action, starting the final five games of the year. He adds to his preseason recognition list, as he was also a preseason All-Big Ten selection by Athlon Sports (first team) and Phil Steele (second team).
Last season, Scott still ranked fourth on the team with seven pass break-ups and tied for team lead with two interceptions, tallying 13 total tackles.
Scott, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, was named the Redbox Bowl Defensive MVP after recording a career-high four pass break-ups in addition to three tackles, including one for an 8-yard loss, against Oregon. Scott also collected Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after his performance against Rutgers, snaring a career-high two interceptions to go with three tackles in start against the Scarlet Knights, with one interception coming with 1:32 to play in the game at the MSU 6 as Rutgers was driving for the possible game-winning score.
Other standout games for Scott last season included tallying two tackles to go with one pass break-up at Nebraska, as well as posting five tackles and one pass break-up vs. Ohio State.
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