Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Football's Russell Named to Butkus Award Watch List
7.22.19 | Football
CHICAGO – Temple's graduate linebacker Chapelle Russell has been named to the 2019 Butkus Award Watch List honoring the nation's best linebackers. The list includes 51 players from 39 different universities, however, Russell is the only linebacker to make the list from the American Athletic Conference and one of only five outside of the Power 5 conferences.
Russell enters his third year as a starter but the first with the benefit of a healthy preseason. He started all 13 games a year ago after recovering form ACL surgery for the second straight year. In 2018, he led the nation with five fumble recoveries, including one that he forced and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Russell reached the 70 tackle plateau in each of the past two seasons despite missing the final four games in 2017. Overall in his career, he has started 23 of 32 games played with 165 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, six fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
The Butkus Award kicked off its 35th annual selection process by announcing both its collegiate and high school preseason watch lists. Each watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with the Award's namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
Semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and winners on or before December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. They include the I Play Clean® initiative promoting training and nutrition instead of performance-enhancing drugs, and the Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults.
The Butkus Award, www.thebutkusaward.com and on Facebook at 51.butkus, is presented by the nonprofit Butkus Foundation. Selectors and selection criteria are located on the official website. Search social media for #butkusaward2019.
The Butkus Award® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.
Russell joins Temple LB Shaun Bradley (Bednarik Award), OL Matt Hennessy (Rimington Award), QB Anthony Russo (Maxwell Award), and TE Kenny Yeboah (Mackey Award) as Owls who have earned Watch List selections in 2019.
Russell enters his third year as a starter but the first with the benefit of a healthy preseason. He started all 13 games a year ago after recovering form ACL surgery for the second straight year. In 2018, he led the nation with five fumble recoveries, including one that he forced and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Russell reached the 70 tackle plateau in each of the past two seasons despite missing the final four games in 2017. Overall in his career, he has started 23 of 32 games played with 165 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, six fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
The Butkus Award kicked off its 35th annual selection process by announcing both its collegiate and high school preseason watch lists. Each watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with the Award's namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
Semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and winners on or before December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. They include the I Play Clean® initiative promoting training and nutrition instead of performance-enhancing drugs, and the Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults.
The Butkus Award, www.thebutkusaward.com and on Facebook at 51.butkus, is presented by the nonprofit Butkus Foundation. Selectors and selection criteria are located on the official website. Search social media for #butkusaward2019.
The Butkus Award® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.
Russell joins Temple LB Shaun Bradley (Bednarik Award), OL Matt Hennessy (Rimington Award), QB Anthony Russo (Maxwell Award), and TE Kenny Yeboah (Mackey Award) as Owls who have earned Watch List selections in 2019.
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