Ohio State Buckeyes

Butkus Award Semifinalist List includes 2 Ohio State Linebackers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Ohio State now has more evidence for their claim to being ‘LB-U.’

Earlier today, the Butkus Award Semi-Finalist list came out. The award is presented annually to the best linebacker in all of College Football. Making the semi-finalist list is an honor, as it only includes 12 of the many players eligible. Perhaps over 400 players are eligible to receive these honors, but only a very small percentage do. Out of the 12 players on the prestigious list, 2 of them are Ohio State Buckeyes.

Both Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan are on the list. I don’t think anybody in the world was shocked to see that Raekwon made this list. McMillan was not only a semi-finalist last year, but made the finalist list as well.

The Junior LB from Hinesville, Georgia is quickly becoming an Ohio State great. McMillan continued to put up great stats last week against Northwestern with 9 Tackles and a Pass Deflection.

The surprising one to make this list is definitely Jerome Baker. Not because of his stats, but because of his story. Entering 2016, Baker was not even listed as a starter for Ohio State.

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Playing behind three linebackers with NFL draft potential – Chris Worley, Dante Booker & Raekwon McMillan – Baker knew he’d see some field time, but not much. A short-term injury to Dante Booker gave Jerome Baker a chance to show what he had, and boy, did he make the most of his opportunity.

The sophomore from Cleveland, Ohio shined on the biggest of stages. On the road at a Top-10 Wisconsin team, Baker set his career high with 13 tackles and 8 of them solo.

Baker also had a big-time performance in prime time against the Oklahoma Sooners. Not only did the 6’1 LB have 7 tackles, but he had an incredible 68 yard pick-six.

Ohio State has a history with the Butkus Award with 2 winners since it started being an annual award in 1985. Buckeye greats James Laurinaitis and Andy Katzenmoyer were granted the bragging rights as the best college LB in America.

Whether a Buckeye wins the Butkus Award in 2016 or not, it is an amazing feat to have not only 1, but 2 players make the semi-finalist list.

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