Josey Jewell, Iowa
As the only returning Butkus Award finalist last year, Jewell is one of the clear-cut favorites to win the honor this season.
Rated as a two-star recruit from rural Decorah, Jewell’s only Division I offer came from Iowa. Like so many other similarly ranked prospects over the years, Jewell eventually developed into a star under Kirk Ferentz and company to become the key piece of a solid Hawkeyes defense with a combined 250 tackles over the past two years.
After a redshirt campaign, Jewell got valuable experience as a freshman with 51 tackles across 10 games. Jewell then really took off the next season for the Rose Bowl-bound Hawkeyes, racking up 126 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions, including a touchdown return.
Last season brought similar numbers, as Jewell piled up another 124 tackles, including six for loss, and nine pass breakups to earn a finalist nod. While the pass rush numbers aren’t quite there, the hard-hitting Jewell has proven to be one of the best run stopping linebackers in the country, and provides plenty of support in pass coverage.
With Desmond King off to the NFL, Jewell is set to be the leader of a promising Iowa defense in 2017. The Hawkeyes’ linebackers should be the strength of the unit thanks to Jewell, and another 120+ tackle season will have him in the running for the Butkus Award once again.