CHICAGO – Bruin senior linebackers Carl Jones Jr. and Darius Muasau were named to the watch list for the Butkus Award in an announcement by the award's selection panel on Monday. The award recognizes the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
Jones has seen action in 31 career contests at linebacker and on special teams for the Bruins. In 2021, he competed in all 12 games and was credited with multiple tackles in half. Jones posted a season-high of five tackles in a win at Stanford. He made four stops against Hawai'i and forced a fumble in the Fresno State game. For the season, Jones totaled 23 tackles, including 3.5 tackles which produced 40 yards in losses, the second-highest total on the team. He tied for the team lead with three quarterback hits. In 2020, Jones registered a career-best six tackles and 1.5 sacks at Oregon.
Muasau, who enrolled at UCLA in January after transferring from Hawai'i, has been named to the first-team All-Mountain West Conference squad the past two seasons. He eclipsed the 100-tackles mark in both 2021 and 2020, having posted 109 stops last season on the heels of a 104 total the previous year. In 2021, Muasau led UH in tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (7.0) while being ranked tied for second in the country with five forced fumbles. In 2020, he led the Mountain West and ranked fourth nationally in solo tackles per game average (7.6) while recording 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Over the past two seasons, he has produced 14 games in which he totaled at least 10 tackles.
The Butkus Award has honored the nation's best linebacker since 1985 and is named for Dick Butkus, whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in the football history. Bruin Eric Kendricks, now with the Minnesota Vikings, became UCLA's first winner of the award following the 2014 season.
A 51-person selection panel which includes coaches, talent evaluators and journalists will name finalists for the award in November and the winner will be recognized in December on The Home Depot College Football Show. "I am always excited about seeing our great watch list players on the field," said Butkus, the College and Pro Football Hall of Famer. "When an outstanding player receives the Butkus Award he will know two things: First, he is recognized as the best of the best linebackers in America; Second, and in the long run most important, he will understand this recognition brings a responsibility of giving back."
All 2022 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a televised event on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. CBS Sports Network aired the event last season, featuring Butkus and numerous noted NFL Alumni.
The Bruins open the 2022 season with three straight non-conference home contests. The campaign begins on Sept. 3 against Bowling Green at Rose Bowl Stadium in a 11:30 a.m. PT kickoff that airs on Pac-12 Network. A Sept. 10 visit by Alabama State follows, with the Pac-12 Network-televised matchup slated for a 2 p.m. start. Pac-12 Network provides coverage of the Sept. 17 battle with South Alabama, beginning at 11 a.m. The Bruin's home slate also includes Pac-12 Conference home contests against Washington (Sept. 30), Utah (Oct. 8), Stanford (Oct. 29) Arizona (Nov. 12) and USC (Nov. 19). To place a $99 deposit on 2022 UCLA football season tickets, CLICK HERE.
Jones has seen action in 31 career contests at linebacker and on special teams for the Bruins. In 2021, he competed in all 12 games and was credited with multiple tackles in half. Jones posted a season-high of five tackles in a win at Stanford. He made four stops against Hawai'i and forced a fumble in the Fresno State game. For the season, Jones totaled 23 tackles, including 3.5 tackles which produced 40 yards in losses, the second-highest total on the team. He tied for the team lead with three quarterback hits. In 2020, Jones registered a career-best six tackles and 1.5 sacks at Oregon.
Muasau, who enrolled at UCLA in January after transferring from Hawai'i, has been named to the first-team All-Mountain West Conference squad the past two seasons. He eclipsed the 100-tackles mark in both 2021 and 2020, having posted 109 stops last season on the heels of a 104 total the previous year. In 2021, Muasau led UH in tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (7.0) while being ranked tied for second in the country with five forced fumbles. In 2020, he led the Mountain West and ranked fourth nationally in solo tackles per game average (7.6) while recording 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Over the past two seasons, he has produced 14 games in which he totaled at least 10 tackles.
The Butkus Award has honored the nation's best linebacker since 1985 and is named for Dick Butkus, whom NFL Films considers the best defensive player in the football history. Bruin Eric Kendricks, now with the Minnesota Vikings, became UCLA's first winner of the award following the 2014 season.
A 51-person selection panel which includes coaches, talent evaluators and journalists will name finalists for the award in November and the winner will be recognized in December on The Home Depot College Football Show. "I am always excited about seeing our great watch list players on the field," said Butkus, the College and Pro Football Hall of Famer. "When an outstanding player receives the Butkus Award he will know two things: First, he is recognized as the best of the best linebackers in America; Second, and in the long run most important, he will understand this recognition brings a responsibility of giving back."
All 2022 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a televised event on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. CBS Sports Network aired the event last season, featuring Butkus and numerous noted NFL Alumni.
The Bruins open the 2022 season with three straight non-conference home contests. The campaign begins on Sept. 3 against Bowling Green at Rose Bowl Stadium in a 11:30 a.m. PT kickoff that airs on Pac-12 Network. A Sept. 10 visit by Alabama State follows, with the Pac-12 Network-televised matchup slated for a 2 p.m. start. Pac-12 Network provides coverage of the Sept. 17 battle with South Alabama, beginning at 11 a.m. The Bruin's home slate also includes Pac-12 Conference home contests against Washington (Sept. 30), Utah (Oct. 8), Stanford (Oct. 29) Arizona (Nov. 12) and USC (Nov. 19). To place a $99 deposit on 2022 UCLA football season tickets, CLICK HERE.