CHICAGO – Texas A&M linebacker Ray Coney was named to the preseason watch list for the 42nd annual Butkus Award, as announced by the Butkus Foundation on Thursday. The award annually recognizes the best collegiate linebacker in the nation.
Coney arrives in Aggieland for his senior campaign after spending two years at East Tennessee State and last season with Tulsa, where he served as a team captain. The Fairfield, Ohio, product started all 12 games and led the Golden Hurricanes’ defense with 129 tackles, while also registering 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble in 2025. During his lone season at Tulsa, Coney notched 10 or more tackles in eight games. Throughout his three-year collegiate career, Coney has appeared in 35 games and totaled 273 tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and seven quarterback hurries.
The 51-player watch list is a tribute to the iconic No. 51 jersey worn by Dick Butkus during his Hall of Fame career. Award semifinalists will be named Oct. 28, and finalists will be announced Nov. 20. The winner of the 2026 Butkus Award will be revealed during the week of Dec. 7 and recognized during the Butkus Award celebration in early 2027.
About the Butkus Award
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award® honors the nation's top linebackers at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels while preserving the legacy of Dick Butkus through excellence in football, cardiovascular health advocacy, and youth character development. Through the Butkus Foundation's Takes Heart™ initiative and partnership with Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the Foundation supports education, research, and expanded access to preventive cardiovascular screening. The Foundation also promotes natural athletic performance through its longstanding I Play Clean® initiative.
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