EUGENE — Oregon linebacker Troy Dye has earned his way onto a third preseason award watch list.
Dye as among the 51 players on the watch list for the Butkus award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
Oregon’s leading tackler in each of the last three seasons, Dye was previously named to the Bednarik and Lott IMPACT award watch lists.
Dye was a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree in both 2017 and 2018. He needs 121 tackles to become Oregon’s all-time career leader.
An Oregon player has never won the Butkus award, which went to LSU’s Devin White last year.
Semifinalists for the Butkus award will be announced Nov. 4, the finalists will be revealed Nov. 25 and the winner of the 2019 Butkus award will be announced on or before Dec. 10.
It’s the latest accolade for Dye, who is among five Oregon players named to preseason watch lists. Justin Herbert is on watch lists the Maxwell and O’Brien awards, CJ Verdell and Travis Dye are each on the Walker award watch list and Jake Hanson is on the Rimington trophy watch list.