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Photo by: Rachel Mahan/Texas A&M Athletics
York Named to 2025 Butkus Award Watch List
Jul 30, 2025 | Football
CHICAGO – Preseason accolades continue to roll in for Texas A&M junior Taurean York, who was named to the watch list for the 41st annual Butkus Award®, honoring the nation's top linebacker.
York, from Temple, Texas, has already received preseason first-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Athlon and Pro Football Focus (PFF). The two-time team captain led the Aggies with 82 tackles last season and ranked second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss. He led the Aggies with an 85.7 tackling grade according to PFF and missed just six tackles in nearly 700 defensive snaps last year for an impressive 7.4 missed tackle rate. York tallied a season- and career-high 12 tackles in the Aggies' road win over Mississippi State and he also logged double-digit stops in two other games.
York seeks to become the second Aggie to win the Butkus Award, joining Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Famer Von Miller, who received the trophy from Butkus himself in 2010.
The 51-player watch list pays tribute to Butkus' iconic No. 51 jersey, worn during his Hall of Fame career as the most feared defender in football history.
Candidates for the 2025 Butkus Award represent 39 colleges and universities nationwide. The watch list by conference includes: SEC (18), Big Ten (12), ACC (8), and Big 12 (9), with additional nominees from four other conferences.
Award semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and the winner revealed by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at Butkus' alma mater, the University of Illinois, in early 2026.
The 51-member selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists, evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Butkus' career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
"These linebackers exemplify the standard my Dad set for the position," said Matt Butkus. "With our Carle Illinois partnership, we're ensuring his legacy continues to impact lives both on and off the field through heart health awareness."
About the Butkus Award: Founded in 1985, the Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting the Butkus family's causes, including cardiovascular health (Takes Heart™) and natural training (I Play Clean®).
York, from Temple, Texas, has already received preseason first-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Athlon and Pro Football Focus (PFF). The two-time team captain led the Aggies with 82 tackles last season and ranked second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss. He led the Aggies with an 85.7 tackling grade according to PFF and missed just six tackles in nearly 700 defensive snaps last year for an impressive 7.4 missed tackle rate. York tallied a season- and career-high 12 tackles in the Aggies' road win over Mississippi State and he also logged double-digit stops in two other games.
York seeks to become the second Aggie to win the Butkus Award, joining Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Famer Von Miller, who received the trophy from Butkus himself in 2010.
The 51-player watch list pays tribute to Butkus' iconic No. 51 jersey, worn during his Hall of Fame career as the most feared defender in football history.
Candidates for the 2025 Butkus Award represent 39 colleges and universities nationwide. The watch list by conference includes: SEC (18), Big Ten (12), ACC (8), and Big 12 (9), with additional nominees from four other conferences.
Award semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and the winner revealed by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at Butkus' alma mater, the University of Illinois, in early 2026.
The 51-member selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists, evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Butkus' career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
"These linebackers exemplify the standard my Dad set for the position," said Matt Butkus. "With our Carle Illinois partnership, we're ensuring his legacy continues to impact lives both on and off the field through heart health awareness."
About the Butkus Award: Founded in 1985, the Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting the Butkus family's causes, including cardiovascular health (Takes Heart™) and natural training (I Play Clean®).
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