Bowling Green State University Athletics
Austin Valdez Named To Butkus Award Watch List
July 12, 2016 | Football
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Chicago, Ill. – Bowling Green State University redshirt junior Austin Valdez has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List, given annually to the best linebacker in college football. Last week, Valdez was also recognized on the Bednarik Award Watch List for the nation's best defensive player.
A quarterback-turned-linebacker, Valdez was named first team All-MAC a year ago and was honored by the Touchdown Club of Columbus as a MAC Player To Watch for 2016. He started all 14 games and led the Falcons with 144 tackles (58 unassisted). He also tied for the team lead with 11.0 tackles for loss, adding two interceptions, a sack and five pass break-ups. In the season-opener against Tennessee, Valdez racked up 13 tackles, 1.0 for loss. He then totaled a season-high 20 tackles, becoming just the third Falcon since 2000 to record that many in a single game, in the home opener against Memphis.
Valdez continued to play big in the biggest games, finishing with nine tackles and the game-clinching interception in a road win at Purdue. He finished with 15 tackles, 2.0 for loss, and a sack in a victory over Western Michigan that clinched the team's third consecutive trip to Ford Field for the MAC Championship Game. He added 13 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and an interception against rival Toledo and then posted 13 more tackles, 1.5 for loss, in the win over Northern Illinois to clinch the team's second MAC Championship in three years. He finished out the season with 11 tackles in the GoDaddy Bowl.
A graduated of Sylvania Southview High School and a Northwest Ohio native, Valdez was an all-conference quarterback in high school before redshirting the 2013 season at BGSU. He became a full-time linebacker for the 2014 season, finishing with 20 tackles and earned one starting nod.
Mirroring the legendary "51" pro jersey of the award's namesake Dick Butkus, the Butkus Award watch list features 51 players who will be reviewed by a 51-person selection panel of deeply experienced coaches, talent evaluators and journalists. Valdez is the only player from the Mid-American Conference on the list.
Semifinalists will be named Oct. 31, finalists Nov. 21 and winners will be announced in early 2017. Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus' I Play Clean initiative, which encourages teens to eat well, train hard and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
Valdez joins Joseph Davidson (Ray Guy Award for the nation's best punter) and Tim McAuliffe (Rimington Award for the best center in college football) among players on preseason award watch lists.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2016 BGSU Football Season. The three-time defending MAC East Champions will look to make another trip to Detroit to compete in the ultimate game of #MACtion. Bowling Green opens the season at Ohio State Sept. 3 before hosting both North Dakota and Middle Tennessee State in non-conference home games. In total, the Falcons will play six games inside renovated Doyt Perry Stadium for the 50th anniversary of the The Doyt. Buy your season tickets today by CLICKING HERE!
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