Michigan State University Athletics
Jordan Hall Named to Butkus Award Watch List, Recognized for Work in Community on Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
8/13/2026 5:38:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State senior linebacker Jordan Hall has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List, the Butkus Foundation announced on Thursday.
The Butkus Award is presented each year to the nation's top linebacker. Michigan State's Percy Snow won the award in 1989, becoming the first player to win the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award in the same season.
A three-year letterwinner, Hall was voted a team captain as a junior in 2025 and will look to lead the room once again in his fourth season in East Lansing. The Fredericksburg, Virginia, native was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last season after ranking first on the team and 11th in the Big Ten during the regular season with a career-high 88 tackles, including 4.5 for losses with 2.5 sacks. He has collected 179 tackles, 13 TFLs and seven sacks over the course of his 35 games at Michigan State.
Hall landed on Phil Steele's preseason All-Big Ten First Team over the summer.
The senior standout has also been recognized for his work in the community and in the classroom. For the second year in a row, Hall is Michigan State's nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team. In addition, he was named to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, which is considered the premier award for community service in college football.
A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Hall's passion for leadership and development is highlighted by his three-year involvement on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in which he is currently serving as co-president.
The criminal justice major also had an internship with the Lansing Police Department over the summer.
Hall has participated in numerous outreach initiatives during his time at Michigan State, including March is Reading Month, Team Impact and the Jordan Hall Toy Drive. He has also hosted a Youth Football Camp. In addition, Hall went on a mission trip with Athletes in Action to South Africa in March 2025 and attended the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles in 2024.
During the 2025 Spartan Academic Excellence Gala, Hall was named the male recipient of the Harold & Raynor Shnider Office of the Provost Award, which is presented to a freshman or sophomore student-athlete who embodies the characteristics promoted by Student-Athlete Support Services, with emphasis placed on academic performance, community involvement, and leadership ability.
Hall recently represented Michigan State at the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago, marking the second straight year he attended the event.
Hall and the Spartans will open the 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4 against Toledo at 8 p.m. in East Lansing.
About the Butkus Award®
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award® honors the nation's top linebackers at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels while preserving the legacy of Dick Butkus through excellence in football, cardiovascular health advocacy, and youth character development. Through the Butkus Foundation's Takes Heart™ initiative and partnership with Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Foundation supports education, research, and expanded access to preventive cardiovascular screening. The Foundation also promotes natural athletic performance through its longstanding I Play Clean® initiative.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy honors college football's most impactful leaders in community service – recognizing the FBS player who best combines exemplary service with leadership and achievement on and off the field.
Named for 1996 National Championship–winning University of Florida quarterback and renowned humanitarian Danny Wuerffel, the award reflects his legacy of using influence to serve others and make a positive impact.
As the premier major college football award emphasizing community service, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy considers nominees from all FBS programs nationwide. A member of the National College Football Awards Association and the first major award to honor the character of service, it celebrates athletes who serve, elevates their impact, and inspires others to lead lives of purpose.
The Butkus Award is presented each year to the nation's top linebacker. Michigan State's Percy Snow won the award in 1989, becoming the first player to win the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award in the same season.
A three-year letterwinner, Hall was voted a team captain as a junior in 2025 and will look to lead the room once again in his fourth season in East Lansing. The Fredericksburg, Virginia, native was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last season after ranking first on the team and 11th in the Big Ten during the regular season with a career-high 88 tackles, including 4.5 for losses with 2.5 sacks. He has collected 179 tackles, 13 TFLs and seven sacks over the course of his 35 games at Michigan State.
Hall landed on Phil Steele's preseason All-Big Ten First Team over the summer.
One of the country's best backers 😤 pic.twitter.com/5AoiuPdqzr
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) August 13, 2026
The senior standout has also been recognized for his work in the community and in the classroom. For the second year in a row, Hall is Michigan State's nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team. In addition, he was named to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, which is considered the premier award for community service in college football.
A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Hall's passion for leadership and development is highlighted by his three-year involvement on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in which he is currently serving as co-president.
The criminal justice major also had an internship with the Lansing Police Department over the summer.
Hall has participated in numerous outreach initiatives during his time at Michigan State, including March is Reading Month, Team Impact and the Jordan Hall Toy Drive. He has also hosted a Youth Football Camp. In addition, Hall went on a mission trip with Athletes in Action to South Africa in March 2025 and attended the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles in 2024.
Making an impact on the field and in the community 🤝 pic.twitter.com/8MwLuHyotY
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) August 11, 2026
During the 2025 Spartan Academic Excellence Gala, Hall was named the male recipient of the Harold & Raynor Shnider Office of the Provost Award, which is presented to a freshman or sophomore student-athlete who embodies the characteristics promoted by Student-Athlete Support Services, with emphasis placed on academic performance, community involvement, and leadership ability.
Hall recently represented Michigan State at the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago, marking the second straight year he attended the event.
Hall and the Spartans will open the 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4 against Toledo at 8 p.m. in East Lansing.
About the Butkus Award®
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award® honors the nation's top linebackers at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels while preserving the legacy of Dick Butkus through excellence in football, cardiovascular health advocacy, and youth character development. Through the Butkus Foundation's Takes Heart™ initiative and partnership with Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Foundation supports education, research, and expanded access to preventive cardiovascular screening. The Foundation also promotes natural athletic performance through its longstanding I Play Clean® initiative.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy honors college football's most impactful leaders in community service – recognizing the FBS player who best combines exemplary service with leadership and achievement on and off the field.
Named for 1996 National Championship–winning University of Florida quarterback and renowned humanitarian Danny Wuerffel, the award reflects his legacy of using influence to serve others and make a positive impact.
As the premier major college football award emphasizing community service, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy considers nominees from all FBS programs nationwide. A member of the National College Football Awards Association and the first major award to honor the character of service, it celebrates athletes who serve, elevates their impact, and inspires others to lead lives of purpose.
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