Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Linebacker Duo Named to Butkus Award Watch List
August 13, 2024 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State linebackers Nick Martin and Collin Oliver are on the watch list for the collegiate Butkus Award, it was announced Tuesday.
Now in its 40th season, the Butkus Award honors the top linebacker in the country. The award's watch list contains 51 total student-athletes, including seven from the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State is one of just seven teams with multiple players on the list and is joined by Utah as the only other conference member to do so. Tuesday's announcement marks the third preseason award watch list to include both Martin and Oliver, who were also selected to the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy watch lists earlier this summer.
Martin was a key piece of Oklahoma State's 10-win season in 2023, earning first team All-Big 12 honors and honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. With 140 tackles on the year, Martin's total was the most by a Cowboy since 1984 and most among any Big 12 player in five years. He also led all Power Five players with 83 solo tackles and was one of five players in the nation to record 17 tackles in multiple games. Martin consistently found his way into opposing backfields, ranking 20th in the FBS with 16.0 tackles for loss and leading the Big 12 in sacks by a linebacker.
A consistent presence on the Cowboy defense, Oliver earned second team All-Big 12 distinction in 2023 to become the ninth defensive player in OSU history to receive three all-conference selections. Oliver has played in all 41 games since his arrival in Stillwater and enters his senior season ranking fifth in program history with 22.5 career sacks and ninth with 38.5 career tackles for loss.
Butkus Award finalists are expected to be named on November 25, with the winner being revealed by December 10. The recipient will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of the Big Ten Network television special.
Now in its 40th season, the Butkus Award honors the top linebacker in the country. The award's watch list contains 51 total student-athletes, including seven from the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State is one of just seven teams with multiple players on the list and is joined by Utah as the only other conference member to do so. Tuesday's announcement marks the third preseason award watch list to include both Martin and Oliver, who were also selected to the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy watch lists earlier this summer.
Martin was a key piece of Oklahoma State's 10-win season in 2023, earning first team All-Big 12 honors and honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. With 140 tackles on the year, Martin's total was the most by a Cowboy since 1984 and most among any Big 12 player in five years. He also led all Power Five players with 83 solo tackles and was one of five players in the nation to record 17 tackles in multiple games. Martin consistently found his way into opposing backfields, ranking 20th in the FBS with 16.0 tackles for loss and leading the Big 12 in sacks by a linebacker.
A consistent presence on the Cowboy defense, Oliver earned second team All-Big 12 distinction in 2023 to become the ninth defensive player in OSU history to receive three all-conference selections. Oliver has played in all 41 games since his arrival in Stillwater and enters his senior season ranking fifth in program history with 22.5 career sacks and ninth with 38.5 career tackles for loss.
Butkus Award finalists are expected to be named on November 25, with the winner being revealed by December 10. The recipient will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of the Big Ten Network television special.
Players Mentioned
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