Three LBs from Big 12 selected as Butkus semifinalists

Three linebackers from Big 12 schools, including Texas A&M’s Von Miller and Texas’ Keenan Robinson, have been selected as semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in college football.

The third Big 12 player to make the list of 15 semifinalists is Oklahoma linebacker Travis Lewis. Finalists will be announced next month.

Other semifinalists include UCLA’s Akeem Ayers, North Carolina’s Bruce Carter, Washington’s Mason Foster, Marshall’s Mario Harvey, Alabama’s Donta Hightower, Georgia’s Justin Houston, North Carolina State’s Nate Irving, Michgan State’s Greg Jones, Boston College’s Luke Kuechly, Oregon’s Casey Matthews, Miami’s Sean Spence and Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o.

_ Jimmy Burch