Named after the Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, the Butkus Award is the most prestigious award a linebacker in collegiate football can receive. The award was established in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando.
The trophy was designed by a local sculptor, David Cumbie, the head of the sculptor department of the Crealde School of Art in Winter Park. Cumbie spent more than 200 hours creating the trophy of Dick Butkus, he created the classic Butkus pose - the consummate linebacker, hands resting slightly on his knees, poised to attack.
Dan
Morgan, 2000Miami middle linebacker Dan Morgan became the first Hurricane defender to win the coveted Butkus Award in 2000. Morgan started 43 games at linebacker, the most starts by any Miami linebacker ever and the most by any Hurricanes defensive player in the history of UM football.
Morgan helped lead the Hurricanes to a 10-1 season and an invitation to the Sugar Bowl. Morgan holds the school record for career tackles with 507 and is the only player in UM history to record over 100 tackles in four consecutive seasons. He led the Hurricanes in tackles in 2000 with 123, and he ranked in the top 10 in the nation in tackles per game throughout the season.
Morgan became first player ever to win college football's three top defensive awards available to linebackers: the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Award.
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