HOOVER, Ala. — The preseason hype for Richie Brown continues to roll in.
The Mississippi State football linebacker was named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list, the Football Writers
Association of America announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to the top linebacker.
Alabama seniors Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, and Tim Williams also were named to the watch list.
In all, 51 linebackers from around the country named were named to the list. The honor recognizes the nation’s top linebacker.
Alabama had the most linebackers recognized of any team in the country. Three Crimson Tide players — C.J. Mosley (2013), Rolando McClain (2009), and Derrick Thomas (1988) — have won the award previously.
Brown also was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, given to the best defensive player, earlier this month.
With linebacker Beniquez Brown gone and a new coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon, a lot of responsibility has fallen on Richie Brown’s shoulders.
“Me and (Beniquez Brown) worked together to lead the guys, but now it’s a little bit more on my shoulders to make sure everybody’s lined up and set as the fifth-year senior,” he said. “I have some experience under my belt, so it’s my job to kind of calm things down when they get hectic.”
Richie Brown led the Bulldogs with 109 tackles last season. He became the first Bulldog to record 100-plus tackles since Cam Lawrence (120) and Benardrick McKinney (102) did so in 2012.
The Long Beach native had six-and-a-half sacks in 2015.
“I hope to improve on it,” Richie Brown said. “I’ve been hitting the film room with coach Sirmon. I have a little bit more free time hopefully to spend on that to really improve on fine tuning things. Hopeful I see some good production.”
Anderson enters his senior campaign as one of the nation’s top pass rushers and one of the most reliable linebackers for the Crimson Tide. He had 37 tackles a season ago, with 11 1/2 of those going for a loss. He also had six sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and nine quarterback hurries.
Foster returns for his senior season to anchor the defense after learning under unanimous first-team All-American and current Buffalo Bills linebacker Reggie Ragland as a junior. Foster was second on the team with 73 tackles, eight for a loss, and two sacks.
Williams played in all 15 games as a junior and ranked second on the team with 10 1/2 sacks. He had 12 1/2 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, and one pass breakup.
The Butkus Award has been presented annually since 1985 by the Butkus Foundation to recognize the top linebacker in college football. The award is named in honor of college and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus. The 2016 winner will be announced at the conclusion of the regular season.
n Saban unable to attend event in West Virginia today: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Alabama football coach Nick Saban will be unable to attend the presentation of football uniform flood donations today in Clay, West Virginia, due to his obligations at Southeastern Conference Media Day in Hoover Alabama.
Saban and Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher announced plans last week to take up uniform donations in Alabama and Florida respectively to help West Virginia high school teams replace their uniforms lost in recent flooding.
West Virginia lawmakers Doug Facemire and Mike Romano and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin will join the group, which will be on hand for a presentation surrounding the donations that have been collected around the country.
If approved by the NCAA, former Alabama assistant and West Virginia native Joe Pendry will represent Alabama at the presentation after helping spearhead the donation efforts in Alabama.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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