Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker C.J. Hicks (11) lines up behind defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) during the spring football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on April 16, 2022. Ncaa Football Ohio State Spring Game
We continue to scan the college football universe for the plethora of preseason watch lists and the latest comes in the form of the Butkus Award.
Named after the late, great, NFL and College Football Hall-of-Famer, Dick Butkus, the award goes out to college football’s best linebacker annually. On Tuesday, the award released its preseason watch list and two Ohio State linebackers landed among the fray.
C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles were two of the 51 names appearing in the announcement. Both appear to be in a close competition for the starting Will Linebacker spot with the Buckeyes, but there’s no doubt you’ll see both on the field a lot because of their playmaking ability.
Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (6) tackles Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Zach Evans (26) during the first half of their game on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at Ohio Stadium.
Both players were five-star prospects in the 2022 recruiting class, and both are expected to bust out potentially in 2024. Styles appears to have a slight lead on the position because he took most of the first-team reps so far in preseason camp, but the coaches insist things are near kneck-and kneck.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Two Ohio State players appear on Butkus Award watch list
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