UGA's Carter, Smith Named Butkus Award Semifinalists
ATHENS, Ga. - Two starting linebackers for second-ranked Georgia were named Mon day as semifinalists for the 33rd Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.
Georgia senior Lorenzo Carter and junior Roquan Smith are among 15 semi-finalists, including two from the S.E.C.
The Bulldog duo are two of the five players from the Southeastern Conference included on the list.
Carter, a native of Norcross, is third on second-ranked Georgia with 30 stops, including 5.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading four sacks, from his outside linebacker spot. He has also recovered three fumbles, which leads the SEC and ranks second nationally, and forced two fumbles.
Smith, a native of Montezuma, leads the 8-0 Bulldogs with 61 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, from his inside linebacker spot. An Associated Press, Sporting News, and ESPN Midseason All-American, Smith has also forced a fumble and anchored a unit that ranks third nationally in Scoring Defense (11.9 points/game) and Total Defense (252.1 yards/game).
Finalists will be announced on November 20 and winners will be announced on or before December 5.
The second-ranked Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) play host to South Carolina (6-2, 4-2) on Saturday in Sanford Stadium at 3:30 p.m. CBS will televise the matchup.