Football

Western Michigan's Hayward Named To 2020 Butkus Award Watch List

Butkus Award Watch List (.PDF)

CHICAGO, IL -- The Butkus Award honoring the nation’s best linebackers kicked off its 36th annual selection process today by announcing its collegiate and high school preseason watch lists. The watch list contains 51 linebackers, mirroring the legendary “51” pro jersey associated with the Award’s namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
 
Representing the Mid-American Conference on this year’s list was Western Michigan senior linebacker Treshaun Hayward.
 
Hayward, the 2019 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, has played in 34 career games with 12 starts. He has recorded 179 tackles, 12.5 tackles for lost yardage, 5.0 sacks, one pass breakup, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one quarterback pressure.
 
The Ypsilanti, Mich. native finished the 2019 season ranked third nationally in total tackles with 142. He is one of two returning players in 2020 who recorded 130 or more tackles and 10.0 or more TFL in 2019, joining Jahad Woods of Washington State (141 tackles & 10.0 TFL).
 
During the 2019 campaign, Hayward played in all 13 games and started the final 11. He compiled 10.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one PBU, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery and one QB pressure. Within the MAC, Hayward ranked first in total tackles, second in tackles per game (10.92), tied for 10th in sacks and tied for 10th in sacks per game (0.38). Nationally, he ranked third in total tackles, sixth in total tackles per game and tied for 16th in solo tackles per game (5.54). Hayward posted 10 or more tackles in nine weeks and became the first MAC player with nine or more double-digit tackle efforts in the same year since Malik Fountain of Central Michigan had 11 in 2018.
 
Semi-finalists are expected to be named November 2, finalists November 23, and winners on or before December 8. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.
 
The Butkus Award® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 800 recipients since 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.