Award watch list season continued in earnest on Monday with the Butkus Award and Jim Thorpe Award Watch List being released on Monday and a total of four Tigers were named to the lists.
The first list to come out was the Butkus Award Watch List and linebacker Damone Clark and Jabril Cox were among 51 players that were announced by the Butkus Foundation on Monday morning.
Clark, a junior from Baton Rouge, and Cox, a graduate transfer from North Dakota State, both have yet to be consistent starters for the Tigers, but they are both expected to be the two key linebackers in the new 4-3 defense under defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Both players are looking to become the second-ever Tiger to win the award, which is presented annually to the best linebacker in the country. The first LSU player to take the honor was Devin White in 2018 when he recorded 123 tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles.
Later in the day, the Jim Thorpe watch list was announced and Jacoby Stevens and Derek Stingley Jr. were among the 49 players included. The Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top defensive back, has been won by an LSU player three times including last season by Grant Delpit.