CHICAGO – Sun Devil Football’s Keyshaun Elliott is considered one of the top linebackers in the country heading into the 2025 season.
The Butkus Foundation released the preseason watch list for the 41st annual collegiate Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker. The 51-player 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. One of the initial candidates is Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott. He is the latest Sun Devil to land on a preseason award watch list.
Elliott has emerged as one of the elite players at his position and a leader of the Sun Devil defense. He is looking to become the program’s first Butkus Award winner. Candidates for the 2025 Butkus Award represent 39 colleges and universities nationwide. The watch list by conference includes: SEC (18), Big Ten (12), Big 12 (9), and ACC (8), with additional nominees from four other conferences.
View the Butkus Award preseason watch list
Award process
The 51-member selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists, evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Butkus’ career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
Selection timeline
Award semi-finalists will be named November 4, finalists November 25, and the winner revealed by December 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in early 2026, featured on a Big Ten Network special.
About the Butkus Award
Founded in 1985, the Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting the Butkus family’s causes, including cardiovascular health (Takes Heart™) and natural training (I Play Clean®).
AP Preseason Top-25
Sun Devil Football has been ranked No. 11 by the Associated Press in their 2025 preseason college football rankings. The buzz surrounding Arizona State continues as the AP Preseason Top-25 Poll features the Sun Devils at No. 11. It is the highest ASU has been ranked in the preseason since coming in at No. 8 prior to the 1998 season. Of the four Big 12 programs in the initial poll, Arizona State is the top-ranked team from the league. The 2024 Big 12 Champions finished at No. 7 in the final AP Poll of the 2024 season.
Jim Thorpe preseason watch list
The Football Writers Association of America listed Xavion Alford on the
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