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Iowa Football: Butkus Award Horribly Omit Hawkeyes Josey Jewell

By Joe Favia

IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 04: Linebacker Josey Jewell
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 04: Linebacker Josey Jewell /
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On the day that the University of Illinois announced that football great Dick Butkus would be getting a statue at his alma mater, the finalists for his award were announced. The most glaring omission was Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell.

There is no conceivable reason that Jewell should not have been one of the finalists for the award given to the best linebacker in the country. Frankly, he should be the favorite for the award as his stats support it, and he represents everything the award stands for.

On the awards website the quote from the man himself says:

"“When a player receives the Butkus Award he will know two things. First, he is recognized as the best of the best linebackers in America. Second, and in the long run most important, he will understand that this recognition brings a responsibility to serve others by giving back.”"

Jewell by many accounts could be among the favorites for Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year, and for to not listed among the top linebackers in the country is insulting. Two Big Ten players were named finalists for the Butkus in TJ Edwards (Wisconsin) and Devin Bush (Michigan).

The Decorah, Iowa native is third in the nation in tackles per game with 11.7, and is the leader among major conference players. He leads the Big Ten in tackles, even after missing an entire game, and is currently fifth in the conference in tackles for loss.

No rhyme or reason can be given for leaving off a player that has competed against some of the best running backs in the country such as Justin Jackson and Saquon Barkley. Jewell has also dominated predicted first round pick quarterback Josh Allen, and at the time Heisman hopefully JT Barrett.

For an individual award, the Hawkeyes recent struggles in losses against Wisconsin and Purdue should not hold any weight. If anything, Jewell has kept the Hawkeyes in games that they have not played to the level of the opponent.

This is one that the Butkus Foundation is going to have to wear for a long time.