It would make sense that if Nick Martin and Collin Oliver were on the list for the best defensive player of the year, they would also be on the list for the best linebacker in college football.

The Butkus Award on Tuesday released its list of nominees for the award, which is given to the nation’s top linebacker. Oliver and Martin were two of 51 linebackers on the list. Only seven teams had multiple linebackers on the nominee list, Utah being the only other team in the Big 12.

In his final season (how time flies), Oliver has accumulated 130 tackles, including 22.5 sacks, in his first three years of college football, which puts him fifth in program history — he is 11.5 sacks short of being tied with Leslie O’Neal for first place. He began his career as a defensive end before switching back to linebacker before last season. He is listed as a backer again in 2024, but is expected to rotate in the Cowboys’ defense.

“Collin is going to move around and play a little bit on the second level,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said Tuesday. “We’re going to move him up front. We’re going to move him up a little bit, get him from deep. We’re going to move those guys around and just try to utilize all of their skills. A lot of it will depend on who we’re playing.”

Martin joined Oliver in OSU’s 2021 recruiting class, but while Oliver made an immediate impact, Martin waited in the background for his opportunity and took full advantage of it. In his first year as a starter last season, Martin led the Big 12 with 140 total tackles. He also had 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Martin redshirted in 2021, so he actually has two seasons left to play, including this upcoming season.

“Nick loves football,” Gundy said. “He’s an old-school tough guy. He’d play football if he didn’t have to pay for it. He’s changed his body. I think he’s 222 pounds or something now and he can run really fast. He’s violent and he’s relentless with his body. He doesn’t care what happens to his body when he plays. In my opinion, to be a good college football player, you have to put the health of your body aside to play the game. And he’s willing to do that – not just in games, but in practice.”

The finalists for the Butkus Award are expected to be announced on November 25th and the winner announced on December 10th.