Smith, a native of Montezuma, Ga., garnered 60 percent of the first-place votes and 40 percent of the overall weighted vote, which is a greater margin than any linebacker in the past decade. He was chosen from the other finalists of Michigan’s Devin Bush, Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, Wisconsin’s T.J. Edwards and Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel, according to an announcement from the Butkus Foundation.
Smith is the first Georgia player to win the Butkus Award in its 33-year history since 1985. There have been three other Bulldog finalists four different years in recent history, including Leonard Floyd (2015), Jarvis Jones (2011, 2012) and Justin Houston (2010).
"Roquan Smith proved to be the overwhelming favorite in this year's collegiate linebacking class,” according to the award selection committee. “He's always around the ball and is very tough, fast and instinctive, with exceptional football reflexes. He makes his presence felt all over the field and hits with the type of explosion that has come to define the Butkus Award. As terrific of a football player as he is, Roquan is highly regarded by teammates, coaches and support staff for his intelligence, intensity and leadership traits.”
Also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, Smith has earned midseason All-American honors by leading the team for a second year in a row with 113 tackles (8.7 tackles/game) during Georgia’s 12-1 campaign, highlighted by its 13th Southeastern Conference title and first since 2005 this past weekend.
Smith has added 10.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble to lead the Bulldogs. With the help from Butkus Award semifinalist Lorenzo Carter, Georgia ranks second nationally in Passing Yards Allowed (158.3 yards/game), third in Scoring Defense (13.8 points/game) and fourth in Total Defense (270.9 yards/game).
Georgia has held its last three opponents to a combined seven points in the second half, including the Bulldogs’ 28-7 rout of second-ranked Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. In addition, Georgia blanked Tennessee 41-0 during the regular season, snapping the nation’s fourth-longest active scoring streak and the sixth-longest streak in college football history.
The third-ranked Bulldogs (12-1) travel to Pasadena, Calif., to face second-ranked Oklahoma (12-1) in the College Football Playoff’s semifinal round in the Rose Bowl on Monday, January 1. Kickoff is at 5:10 p.m. ET.
The Butkus Award selection committee is comprised of 51 football coaches, recruiters, talent scouts and journalists who study football talent yearlong.
Also on Sunday, several players earned awards during the team’s annual gala. Here is a list of the winners:
Team Captains
Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Isaiah Wynn, Roquan Smith
Vince Dooley Offensive MVP
Nick Chubb, Sony Michel
Vince Dooley Defensive MVP
Roquan Smith
Vince Dooley Special Teams MVP
Mecole Hardman
Charley Trippi Award
Sony Michel, Lorenzo Carter
Frank Sinkwich Award
Isaiah Wynn, Malkom Parrish
David Jacobs Award
Reggie Carter, Jeb Blazevich
Leon Farmer Strength and Conditioning Award
Nick Chubb
Up Front Award – Offense
Isaiah Wynn, Lamont Gaillard
Up Front Award – Defense
John Atkins, Jonathan Ledbetter, Davin Bellamy
Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award
Jake Fromm, D’Andre Swift, Andrew Thomas
Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award
J.R. Reed
Special Teams Newcomer of the Year Award
Cameron Nizialek, Prather Hudson, Christian Payne
Offensive Most Improved Player Award
Charlie Woerner, Kendall Baker
Defensive Most Improved Player Award
David Marshall, Dominick Sanders, D’Andre Walker, Tyler Clark
Special Teams Most Improved Player Award
Rodrigo Blankenship, Tyler Simmons, Jayson Stanley
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year
Thomas Swilley, Turner Fortin, Stetson Bennett, Willie Erdman
Defensive Scout Team Player Award
Jake Skole, Daniel Harper, Kirkland Smith, Michael Barnett
Special Teams Scout Team Player Award
Jaleel Laguins, Jordan Davis, Jacob Gross, Jordon McKinney
Community Service Award
Aaron Davis
Senior Scholar Award
John Courson (4.0, Biology and Psychology with a Neuroscience emphasis)
