TicketsCINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati senior Darrian Beavers has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Beavers, playing for his hometown school, leads the vaunted Bearcat defense with 3.5 sacks and is second with 58 total tackles. He has also registered 5 1/2 stops for loss, two forced fumbles and recoveries, as well as two pass breakups.
Cincinnati this season leads the country in defensive pass efficiency and is second in scoring defense (14.2 ppg), turnovers gained (19) and interceptions (14). Last year's team also finished in the top-15 for five defensive categories. Beavers joins three other teammates who have been named award semifinalists: Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant (Jim Thorpe) and Desmond Ridder (Davey O'Brien).
The No. 2 Bearcats return home Saturday to battle Tulsa at 3:30 p.m. ESPN's College GameDay will also be on campus that morning for the first time in school history.
Beavers, playing for his hometown school, leads the vaunted Bearcat defense with 3.5 sacks and is second with 58 total tackles. He has also registered 5 1/2 stops for loss, two forced fumbles and recoveries, as well as two pass breakups.
Cincinnati this season leads the country in defensive pass efficiency and is second in scoring defense (14.2 ppg), turnovers gained (19) and interceptions (14). Last year's team also finished in the top-15 for five defensive categories. Beavers joins three other teammates who have been named award semifinalists: Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant (Jim Thorpe) and Desmond Ridder (Davey O'Brien).
The No. 2 Bearcats return home Saturday to battle Tulsa at 3:30 p.m. ESPN's College GameDay will also be on campus that morning for the first time in school history.