University of Georgia Athletics
CJ Allen Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
November 04, 2025 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. --- Bulldog junior inside linebacker CJ Allen has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award honoring the nation's best linebacker, according to a Butkus Foundation announcement Tuesday.
Allen, a native of Barnesville, Ga., is one of only three players from the Southeastern Conference on the list. He is already a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and is a Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist. Butkus finalists will be named on Nov. 25 and the winner will be named on or before Dec. 10.
Former Bulldog and current Atlanta Falcon Jalon Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award. He was the third Georgia linebacker to win after current NFL linebackers Roquan Smith (2017) and Nakobe Dean (2021) also garnered the accolade.
Allen leads the Southeastern Conference with 8.6 tackles per game. He has totaled 69 stops, including 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, through eight games. Allen has forced a pair of fumbles and collected another loose ball while helping give Georgia one of the nation's top-15 rushing defenses. Most recently, he had a career-high 13 tackles versus Florida and anchored a Bulldog defense that gave up only three points in the fourth quarter.
The No. 5 Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) travel to Starkville, Miss., to play Mississippi State (5-4, 1-4) Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. ESPN will televise the matchup.
Allen, a native of Barnesville, Ga., is one of only three players from the Southeastern Conference on the list. He is already a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and is a Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist. Butkus finalists will be named on Nov. 25 and the winner will be named on or before Dec. 10.
Former Bulldog and current Atlanta Falcon Jalon Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award. He was the third Georgia linebacker to win after current NFL linebackers Roquan Smith (2017) and Nakobe Dean (2021) also garnered the accolade.
Allen leads the Southeastern Conference with 8.6 tackles per game. He has totaled 69 stops, including 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, through eight games. Allen has forced a pair of fumbles and collected another loose ball while helping give Georgia one of the nation's top-15 rushing defenses. Most recently, he had a career-high 13 tackles versus Florida and anchored a Bulldog defense that gave up only three points in the fourth quarter.
The No. 5 Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) travel to Starkville, Miss., to play Mississippi State (5-4, 1-4) Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. ESPN will televise the matchup.
Players Mentioned
ILB
/ FootballGeorgia Football: Head Coach Kirby Smart Sugar Bowl Press Conference
Monday, December 22
Kirby Smart All Access SEC Championship vs Alabama - 2025
Monday, December 08
2025 SEC Championship Trophy Presentation
Saturday, December 06
Georgia Football SEC Championship vs Alabama Highlights
Saturday, December 06