Northwestern University Athletics
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Fisher, Hall Named to Butkus Award Watch List
7/23/2018 5:06:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Senior Nate Hall and redshirt sophomore Paddy Fisher were among 51 student-athletes named to the Butkus Award Watch List Monday morning.
The 34th Butkus Award will be given to the nation's top linebacker. The 51 nominees mirror the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with the Award's namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
Hall started all 12 regular season games last season before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the Music City Bowl. He finished the season second on the team with a career-high 79 tackles and led the Wildcats with 16.5 tackles for loss. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Hall ranked second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in tackles for loss entering bowl season.
Fisher burst onto the scene in 2017 by leading all first-year players in tackles (113) and solo tackles (65) to earn Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America. A Second-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Fisher was the only Power 5 player in the country to post two games with 18-plus tackles and also led the Big Ten and ranked seventh nationally with four forced fumbles during the regular season. Fisher was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the Big Ten Network and finished the season ranked fourth in the league in tackles.
Northwestern wrapped up the 2017 campaign with a 24-23 victory over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl to earn its second-straight bowl victory for the first time in program history. The Wildcats return seven starters on offense and defense, including All-Big Ten honorees Clayton Thorson, Tommy Doles, Paddy Fisher, Joe Gaziano, Nate Hall, Samdup Miller and Charlie Kuhbander.
Chicago's Big Ten Team features the best home schedule in the nation in 2018 with Ryan Field playing host to Duke, Akron, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. Season ticket information is available at NUSports.com and by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
The 34th Butkus Award will be given to the nation's top linebacker. The 51 nominees mirror the legendary "51" pro jersey associated with the Award's namesake Dick Butkus, who was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in football history.
Hall started all 12 regular season games last season before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the Music City Bowl. He finished the season second on the team with a career-high 79 tackles and led the Wildcats with 16.5 tackles for loss. An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Hall ranked second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in tackles for loss entering bowl season.
Fisher burst onto the scene in 2017 by leading all first-year players in tackles (113) and solo tackles (65) to earn Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America. A Second-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Fisher was the only Power 5 player in the country to post two games with 18-plus tackles and also led the Big Ten and ranked seventh nationally with four forced fumbles during the regular season. Fisher was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the Big Ten Network and finished the season ranked fourth in the league in tackles.
Northwestern wrapped up the 2017 campaign with a 24-23 victory over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl to earn its second-straight bowl victory for the first time in program history. The Wildcats return seven starters on offense and defense, including All-Big Ten honorees Clayton Thorson, Tommy Doles, Paddy Fisher, Joe Gaziano, Nate Hall, Samdup Miller and Charlie Kuhbander.
Chicago's Big Ten Team features the best home schedule in the nation in 2018 with Ryan Field playing host to Duke, Akron, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. Season ticket information is available at NUSports.com and by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
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