NC State’s Sean Brown Named to 2024 Butkus Award Watch List

NC State Redshirt Junior Linebacker Sean Brown has been named to the 2024 Butkus Award Watch List. Last year, NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson won the award. The Butkus Award has been awarded to the best Linebacker in college football annually since 1985.

Brown on the Butkus

Sean Brown has been selected for the Butkus Award Watch List, given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.

📰: https://t.co/S5SBxMH3Uj#1Pack1Goal pic.twitter.com/crMeseE0iw

— NC State Football (@PackFootball) August 13, 2024

2024 PRESEASON WATCH LIST

• Eugene Asante, Auburn
• Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
• Lander Barton, Utah
• Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
• Gaethan Bernadel, Stanford
• Sean Brown, NC State
• Carson Bruener, Washington
• Sam Brumfield, Virginia Tech
• Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
• Barrett Carter, Clemson
• Jacob Dobbs, James Madison
• Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
• Power Echols, North Carolina
• Aiden Fisher, Indiana
• Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
• C.J. Hicks, Ohio State
• Jay Higgins, Iowa
• Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
• Ruben Hyppolite, Maryland
• D’Eryk Jackson, Kentucky
• Nick Jackson, Iowa
• Shemar James, Florida
• Jack Kelly, BYU
• Kobe King, Penn State
• Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
• Demetrius Knight, South Carolina
• Deontae Lawson, Alabama
• Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
• Jacob Manu, Arizona
• Chandler Martin, Memphis
• Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
• Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, USC
• Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
• Smael Mondon, Georgia
• Xander Mueller, Northwestern
• Namdi Obiazor, TCU
• Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
• Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
• Harold Perkins, LSU
• Colin Ramos, Navy
• Karene Reid, Utah
• Dylan Rosiek, Illinois
• Matthew Salopek, Miami (Ohio)
• Andrew Simpson, Boise State
• Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
• Sonny Styles, Ohio State
• Shae Suiaunoa, Wyoming
• Mohamed Toure, Rutgers
• Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
• Debo Williams, South Carolina
• Jackson Woodard, UNLV

(Link)

Brown is 1 of 50 Linebackers on the Watch List.

This offseason, NC State moved Brown from Safety to Linebacker, to fill the void left by Payton Wilson at WILL Linebacker.

This past season, Brown started in 11 of the 13 games that he played in (Safety), and ranked 3rd on the team in tackles (66) and pass breakups (5). He also had 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. Brown’s PFF Grade of 63.7 ranked 13th on the team. His Tackling Grade of 86.6 ranked 2nd on the team behind Payton Wilson.