[BAYLOR FOOTBALL] Baylor Football’s Keaton Thomas Included on Butkus Award Watch List

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – July 30, 2025

Baylor Football’s Keaton Thomas Included on Butkus Award Watch List
Award honors the nation’s top linebacker
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu> or Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651, Brent_Ingram at Baylor.edu<mailto:Brent_Ingram at Baylor.edu> or Matt Roberts; 254-227-2280, WM_Roberts at Baylor.edu<mailto:WM_Roberts at Baylor.edu>

CHICAGO – Baylor football linebacker Keaton Thomas has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List, as announced Wednesday by the Butkus Foundation.

The 51-player watch list pays tribute to Dick Butkus’ iconic No. 51 jersey, worn during his Hall of Fame career as the most feared defender in football history. The award, named after the legendary linebacker, honors the nation’s top linebacker in college football.

Thomas is one of 12 Big 12 linebackers included on this year’s preseason list. The 51 total players on the watch list represent 39 different schools.

A product of Jacksonville, Fla., Thomas earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in his debut season with BU in 2024, starting all 13 games at inside linebacker and racking up 114 tackles, including seven for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He added three quarterback hurries and returned an interception for a touchdown. Thomas logged four games with double-digit tackles and teamed with Matt Jones to become the first Baylor linebacker duo since 2012 to each eclipse 100 tackles in a season. Thomas’ 114 stops ranked 25th in the nation a year ago.

Already a preseason All-American by multiple publications, Thomas has also been selected as a preseason All-Big 12 member by various outlets. He picks up his second preseason award watch list selection in as many days, having also been included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be named on November 4, with finalists announced on November 25. The winner of this year’s Butkus Award will be revealed on December 10 and honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in early 2026.

The 51-member selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists, evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character and traditional linebacking skills.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.

BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2025 PRESEASON HONORS
Omar Aigbedion, OG
Outland Trophy Watch List
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)

Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Josh Cameron, WR/PR
Preseason First-Team All-America, PR (Athlon)
Preseason All-Big 12, PR/KR (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Texas, WR (DCTF)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12, WR (Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12, WR (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12, PR (Phil Steele)

Sidney Fugar, OL
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)

Caden Jenkins, CB
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Ryan Lengyel, OL
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Jackie Marshall, DL
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)

Coleton Price, OL
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon)

Sawyer Robertson, QB
Maxwell Award Watch List
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)
Preseason Second-Team All-Texas (DCTF)
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews)

Keaton Thomas, LB
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
Preseason Fourth-Team All-America (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason First-Team All-Texas (DCTF)

Michael Trigg, TE
Preseason Second-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Pick Six Previews))
Preseason Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele)

Devin Turner, S
Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big 12 (Pick Six Previews)

Bryson Washington, RB
Maxwell Award Watch List
Preseason Third-Team All-America (Athlon)
Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele, Pick Six Previews)
Preseason First-Team All-Texas (DCTF)

Palmer Williams, P
Preseason Second-Team All-America (Phil Steele)
Preseason Third-Team All-America (Athlon)
Preseason All-Big 12 (Big 12 Media)
Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 (Athlon, Phil Steele)


-BaylorBears.com-



__________________________________



Max Calderone | Director of Athletics Communications (Baseball, Football)

Department of Athletics | Baylor University

C: 254-265-1639



[signature_4121937235]<http://baylorbears.com/>


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