Perryman Selected as a Butkus Award Finalist

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miamisenior linebacker Denzel Perryman was selected as a finalist for the 2014 Butkus Award, which annually honors the nation’s top football linebacker.

Perryman was one of five finalists named by the Butkus Award Foundation on Monday, and he is the only linebacker to represent the ACC. He received the recognition following a 15-tackle performance this past weekend at Virginia. His 15 tackles matched a career high and his 13 solo stops were a career high.

A Coral Gables High School graduate, Perryman has started all 11 games this season for the Hurricanes and has started 24-consecutive games dating back to the start of the 2013 season. He is Miami’s leading tackler with 96 stops on the season.  Perryman also ranks first in both solo tackles (71) and assisted tackles (25).

The 2014 Preseason All-ACC selection also has added 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sack, one interception and three forced fumbles through 11 games. He stands as Miami’s active tackles leader with 337 career stops, and currently ranks 10th all-time in career stops.

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.

This year’s Butkus Award winner will be named on Dec. 9 by an independent panel of 51 recruiters, scouts, coaches and journalists.

Joining Perryman on the list of Butkus Award finalists are fellow linebackers Eric Kendricks (UCLA), Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington), Jake Ryan (Michigan) and Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame).

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