The first of the major college football awards was presented on Sunday night as Alabama’s C.J. Mosley was named the winner of the 2013 Butkus Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
Mosley is the third Crimson Tide player to win the Butkus, joining Derrick Thomas (1988) and Rolando McClain (2009).
The senior beat out fellow finalists Anthony Barr of UCLA, Khalil Mack of Buffalo, Ryan Shazier of Ohio State and Shayne Skov of Stanford.
“This year’s college linebacker class was among the best history. Mosley’s combination of instincts, range, playmaking ability, on-field leadership and work ethic distinguished his performance,” the 51-member Butkus Award committee announced in a statement. “His selfless contributions on special teams and in the community speak to his strength of character and support the Butkus Award mission.”
The great Dick Butkus himself gave the award to Mosley at the Alabama team banquet.
Mosley led the Tide with 102 tackles. He also added nine tackles for loss, five pass breakups and a forced fumble.