UTEP LB Tyrice Knight Named to Butkus Award Watch List

8/10/2023 10:00:00 AM

CHICAGO – UTEP's Tyrice Knight is one of 51 FBS linebackers recognized to the 39^th annual Butkus Award Watch List as announced by the committee on Thursday.

The number of linebackers on the watch list, 51, is a nod to the storied "51" pro jersey worn by the award's namesake, Dick Butkus, who was named by NFL Films as the greatest defensive player in football history. The Butkus Award recognizes the best linebackers in football.

Knight is coming off a 95-tackle season, while he's amassed 197 over the last two years. The redshirt senior was named second team All-CUSA after recording 6.5 TFL, a sack, INT, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble return for a TD. The redshirt senior has started in 31 games at the linebacker position over the last three seasons.

Knight ranked tied 10th in CUSA in total tackles and ranked tied seventh in tackles per game (7.9) in 2022. He tallied a season-high 14 tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss at UNM. Knight scored his first career touchdown as he recovered a fumble and took it 13 yards to pay dirt, while tallying five tackles, a sack and TFL in a win at Charlotte (UTEP's first ever win in the eastern time zone). Knight tallied seven stops in UTEP's upset win over Boise State on national television. The Lakeland, Fla., product opened season with 11 tackles and 2.0 TFL's against North Texas, while he added an interception in a win over rival NM State. He posted 12 stops at Rice on national television. Knight recorded 10 more versus Middle Tennessee.

ABOUT THE BUTKUS AWARD
Instituted in 1985, The Butkus Award® is one of the elite individual honors, originally given each year to one player in college football: the most impactful linebacker in the game. In 2008, The Butkus Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, took stewardship of the award to fully realize the original purpose of honoring athletic achievement and service to the community. Since that time, the award has honored the nation's best high school, college, and professional linebackers. An independent Butkus Award Selection Committee conducts the selection process each year. The committee is comprised of 51 experts, including professional, college, and high school scouts, and prominent sports journalists.

ABOUT DICK BUTKUS
Butkus played gridiron football as a fullback and linebacker at Chicago Vocational High School. At the University of Illinois, he played middle linebacker (1962-64), earning All-America honors in 1963 and 1964. He also starred in the 1963 Rose Bowl game, a 17-7 Illinois victory over the University of Washington.

In his first year with the Bears (1965), Butkus intercepted five passes, and in 1970 NFL coaches voted him the player whom they would most like to have on their teams. In a career shortened by injuries, Butkus accumulated 1,020 tackles, 22 interceptions, and 25 fumble recoveries. After retiring in 1973, he was active in television and films. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

THE 2023 SEASON
The Miners kick off the new campaign at Jax State on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 3:30 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network.

UTEP will open home action on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. Tickets for the 80's Night game are available at www.utepminers.com/tickets, by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu or by visiting the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968

For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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