As No. 4 LSU rides an unbeaten streak into No. 7 Alabama on Saturday, three key Tigers have received national recognition for their efforts this season.
Both junior linebacker Kendell Beckwith and senior linebacker Deion Jones have been named semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to nation’s best linebacker.
Beckwith and Jones represent the only school to have two semifinalists and join two other Southeastern Conference linebackers, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Florida’s Antonio Morrison, on the 10-player list.
Beckwith was also tabbed as one of 20 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, representing the Most Outstanding College Defensive Player of the Year. The Clinton, Louisiana native is among six other SEC defenders.
Along with his Heisman Trophy candidacy, sophomore running back Leonard Fournette has been chosen as Maxwell Award semifinalist, the award for the Collegiate Player of the Year. Fournette is among two other SEC semifinalists, Alabama running back Derrick Henry and Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott.