Toure Named to Butkus Award Watch List
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami linebacker Mohamed Toure was named to the 2026 Butkus Award preseason watch list, the Butkus Foundation announced Thursday.
Toure made an immediate impact during his first season with the Hurricanes, starting all 16 games in 2025. He finished the year leading the team with 84 tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks, while adding six pass breakups.
The veteran linebacker has appeared in 54 games with 29 starts during his collegiate career. Toure has totaled 248 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks across his time at Miami and Rutgers.
The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker. This year’s watch list features 51 players from 42 programs, including nine representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The 51-player field honors the No. 51 jersey worn by Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick Butkus.
Semifinalists will be announced Oct. 28, followed by the finalists Nov. 20. The winner will be revealed during the week of Dec. 7. Players do not need to appear on the preseason watch list to win the award.
Former Miami standout and current President of Football Operations and General Manager for the Carolina Panthers Dan Morgan won the Butkus Award in 2000.
The Hurricanes open the 2026 season Sept. 4 at Stanford. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
