Auburn’s Smoke Monday, Zakoby McClain Thorpen, Butkus Awards Watch Lists

Smoke on Monday

AUBURN, Ala. Auburn’s senior defenders Zakoby McClain and Smoke on Monday has been shortlisted for the Butkus Prize and the Raycom Jim Thorpe Prize.

McClain, a spokesman for the Chuck Bednarik Award for Collective Defender of the Year, led the crowd with 113 matches last season, averaging 10.3 stops per game, finishing third in the SEC and 19^th nationally.

Monday, returning to the start of safety, earned another team’s All-SEC honors in 2020 after he had made 73 matches, four of which were a loss.

The Butkus Award, given to the country’s best defenders, began today’s 37th annual selection process by announcing collegiate and high school pre-season watchlists.

His 37th^th this season, the Butkus Award watch list features 51 line guards, reflecting the legendary “51” shirt associated with award-named Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.

Collegiate Butkus Award the watch list includes candidates from 51 universities, including returning finalist Devin Lloyd of Utah and five returning semi-finalists.

Semi-finalists are expected to be nominated on November 1, finalists on November 22, and winners on or before December 7. Registration on the watch list is not a prerequisite for winning the prize.

The Butkus Award is distributed by the Butkus Foundation and was selected by a 51-member panel of experts consisting of coaches, scouts and journalists. The award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which covers the most prestigious awards in college football.
The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org Learn more.

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and the Jim Thorpe Association on Monday announced the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award pre-watch list. This list includes the best defending defenders in 40 countries, representing 10 conferences and one independent. The pre-season watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members draw up a list of up to 50 players. This list is not exhaustive, and players with excellent seasons can be added as the season progresses.

Monday is one of seven SEC student athletes on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

A screening committee of OSHOF members will monitor the players on the watch list and narrow the field to 10-15 semi-finalists in October. This committee will meet again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists for the award. The three finalists will be sent to a nationwide panel of more than 250 sports writers, sports broadcasters, former players and coaches.

The winner will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

The official distribution of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award will be held in Oklahoma City following a live performance by ESPN at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The current winner and all former winners are invited to celebrate each year. More than 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Awards Ceremony each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and previous award recipients, visit: www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org

Jeff Shearer is a senior writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer