Penn State’s Kobe King is up for one of the top postseason awards for defensive players.
On Tuesday, King was named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
King, who started 11 games last season, was selected an All-Big Ten honorable mention after tallying 59 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.
He is poised to return to his post as the Nittany Lions’ starting middle linebacker, a familiar face in a relatively revamped unit. Tony Rojas and Dom DeLuca are expected to replace Curtis Jacobs, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, and Abdul Carter, who switched to defensive end.
The Butkus Award is the first watch list King has been tabbed to this preseason. It will name semifinalists on Nov. 4. Finalists will be named on Nov. 25 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 10.
King is one of 12 Nittany Lions who have been named to preseason watch lists. Other recognized Penn State players include Abdul Carter (Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award), Drew Allar (Davey O’Brien, Maxwell Award) Nick Singleton (Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award), Kaytron Allen (Doak Walker Award), Tyler Warren (Mackey Award), Kevin Winston Jr. (Bednarik Award), Nick Dawkins (Wuerffel Trophy), Tyler Duzansky (Mannelly Award), Sal Wormley (Outland Trophy), Riley Thompson (Ray Guy Award) and Chase Meyer (Lou Groza Award).
