Perryman Named Butkus Award Semifinalist

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For thesecond consecutive season, Denzel Perryman was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, annually honoring the nation’s top football linebacker.

Perryman was one of 15 semifinalists named by the Butkus Award Foundation Monday, and one of just two from the ACC. Among the 15 recognized Monday, Perryman is the only two-time semifinalist. He was named to the preseason watch list for the award in July.

A Coral Gables HS graduate, Perryman has started all eight games this season for the Hurricanes and has started 21 consecutive games dating back to the start of the 2013 season. Miami’s leading tackler with 62 stops on the season, Perryman ranks first in both solo tackles (42) and assisted tackles (20).

The 2014 Preseason All-ACC selection has added four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and two forced fumbles through eight games. He stands as Miami’s active tackles leader with 303 career stops, and is just 25 tackles shy of cracking the top 10 mark in program history in the category.

Perryman is looking to become just the fifth Hurricane to ever be named a Butkus Award finalist and second to win the award outright; Dan Morgan was selected the winner in 2000.

Finalists for both the collegiate and high school levels will be named November 24 and winners by December 9, by the independent panel of 51 recruiters, scouts, coaches and journalists.

Perryman joins Stephone Anthony (Clemson) as semifinalists from the ACC. Also recognized were Myles Jack (UCLA), Jordan Jenkins (Georgia), A.J. Johnson (Tennessee), Eric Kendricks (UCLA), Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington), Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State), Hayes Pullard (USC), Reggie Ragland (Alabama), Jake Ryan (Michigan), Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame), Eric Striker (Oklahoma), Shaq Thompson (Washington) and Ramik Wilson (Georgia).

For more information on the Butkus Award, visit TheButkusAward.com.