Ole Miss linebacker Khari Coleman named to Dick Butkus Award preseason watch list
The preseason watch lists for national awards roll on and Ole Miss continues to see its players land on them and Thursday was no exception.
Linebacker Khari Coleman was named to the preseason watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, which is handed out annually the to top linebacker in college football. Coleman is one of 51 linebackers that made it on the first watch list of the season for the award. He was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team by Phil Steele.
Transferring in from TCU ahead of fall camp last season Coleman became a key piece of the Ole Miss defense, specifically at the second level. Coleman appeared in 11 of the 13 games last season, starting in four of them. He tallied 42 total tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.
Coleman’s Ole Miss debut against Troy last season saw him record five tackles for loss in the 2022 season opener. He was the third Rebel since 1999 with at least 5.0 TFL in a single game.
Over the last two weeks eight Ole Miss players have been named to seven different watch lists for national awards. Coleman is the latest and joins running back Quinshon Judkins (Maxwell / Doak Walker); offensive lineman Micah Pettus (Outland); tight ends Caden Prieskorn and Michael Trigg (Mackey); defensive lineman JJ Pegues (Wuerffel); wide receivers Zakhari Franklin and Tre Harris (Biletnikoff).
The award semifinalists are expected to be named Oct. 30 with finalists to follow Nov. 20. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 6. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. It is a nod to its namesake Dick Butkus, who wore the number 51 during his storied professional career with the Chicago Bears that earned him the title of greatest defensive player in football history by NFL Films.
