CHICAGO – Senior inside linebacker Evan Weaver was named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award® on Monday. The honor is given annually to both the top collegiate and high school linebackers with each watch list consisting of 51 linebackers to mirror the pro jersey associated with Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.

The honor is the latest in the 2019 preseason for Weaver, who is the nation's leading returning tackler after collecting 159 as a 2018 junior. He is the first Cal football student-athlete to earn a first-team preseason All-American selection (Athlon) since running back Jahvid Best was a preseason first-team pick prior to the 2009 campaign. Weaver is also on preseason watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Award, the Bednarik Award and now the Butkus Award®.

Semifinalists for the Butkus Award® will be announced Nov. 4, 2019, while the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 25, and the winners on or before Dec. 10.

For more information on the Butkus Award®, visit thebutkusaward.com and 51.butkus on Facebook.

Below are notes on Weaver with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Evan Weaver, ILB, 6-3, 245, Sr., 3L, Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)
Cal Career (2016 – Present)
• Has played in 36 of 37 possible games with 18 starts since his arrival at Cal in 2016 and posted career totals highlighted by 230 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss (-52 yards), 6.0 sacks (-35 yards) and two interceptions that he has returned for 47 yards and one touchdown on a career-long 37-yard return against Washington as a 2018 junior
• Cal's active career leader in tackles who will begin the 2019 campaign 29 stops shy of the school's all-time top 10 list
Senior (2019)
• First-team (Athlon) and second-team (Phil Steele) preseason All-American
• First-team preseason All-Pac-12 (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Street & Smith)
• On watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Butkus Award®
• Nation's leading returning tackler with 159 in 2018
Junior (2018)
• Second-team All-American (Pro Football Focus)
• First-team (Associated Press, Pro Football Focus) and second-team (Athlon, Pac-12 Coaches, Phil Steele) All-Pac-12
• Recipient of Cal's Bear Backers Award as the team's Co-Most Valuable Defensive Player
• Recorded career highs of 159 tackles to rank tied for second on Cal's all-time single-season list, 9.5 tackles for loss (-42 yards), 4.5 sacks (-28 yards), and two interceptions that he returned for 47 yards and his lone career touchdown
• Tied for fifth nationally with 6.4 solo tackles per game and eighth in total tackles with 11.9 per contest
 
The Butkus Award® is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients dating to 1935. The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a 12-day period this month. Seventeen of the association's 25 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
 
2019 Preseason Watch List Calendar
Monday, July 15 – Bednarik Award & Maxwell Award
Tuesday, July 16 – Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 17 – Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 18 – Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 19 – John Mackey Award & Rimington Trophy
Monday, July 22 – Butkus Award® & Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Tuesday, July 23 – Bronko Nagurski Trophy & Outland Trophy
Wednesday, July 24 – Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 25 – Paul Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 26 – Walter Camp Award
 
2019 Cal Football Coverage
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