The Butkus Foundation announced that UGA football linebacker Smael Mondon has been named to the 2024 Butkus Award Watch List.

The Butkus Award, named after legendary linebacker Dick Butkus, is an annual college football award given by the Butkus Foundation to the nation’s top linebacker.

Mondon is one of 51 linebackers on the list. Other SEC linebackers include Eugene Asante (Auburn), Jihaad Campbell (Alabama), Deontae Lawson (Alabama), Harold Perkins (LSU), Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Kentucky), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), D’Eryk Jackson (Kentucky), Shemar James (Florida), Demetrius Knight (South Carolina) and Debo Williams (South Carolina).

Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Monday, November 4, and finalists will be announced three weeks later on Monday, November 25. The 2024 Butkus Award winner will be announced by Tuesday, December 10.

Smael Mondon Jr., a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior from Dallas, Georgia. Mondon Jr. was selected as a Second-Team All-SEC selection by the coaches last season and finished second on Georgia’s defense with 68 stops, including 42 solo. Mondon Jr. also recorded three quarterback takedowns.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to open the 2024 season against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, August 31, in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will be broadcast live by ABC at 12:00 p.m. ET (buy tickets).

UGA Football Schedule 2024