Completed Event: Football versus Auburn on September 20, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 17
Final
Football
24
vs Auburn
17
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Murray Named Butkus Award Semifinalist
November 04, 2019 | Football
NORMAN — Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray has been named a semifinalist for the 35th annual Butkus Award honoring the nation's best collegiate linebacker, the Butkus Foundation announced Monday.
Murray, who was also named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), is one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award. He leads the Sooners in tackles (55) and tackles for loss (7.5) while accounting for 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and three QB hurries.
The junior from Missouri City, Texas, was named a first-team midseason All-American by ESPN and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying five tackles (with 2.0 TFLs and a sack) against Texas. He was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week after the season-opening win over Houston when he finished with 13 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one pass breakup and a QB hurry. He also notched nine tackles and a sack against Texas Tech and recorded nine stops (six solo) and 1.5 TFLs against West Virginia.
A starter in all 36 games the last three seasons, Murray is looking to earn OU's fifth Butkus Award. He would join Brian Bosworth (1985 and '86), Rocky Calmus (2001) and Teddy Lehman (2003).
Selection is handled by a panel of 51 coaches, recruiters, scouts and journalists who vote separately and confidentially using a 3-2-1 process, with a write-in option offered. Selectors and selection criteria are posted at www.thebutkusaward.com. Finalists will be announced Nov. 25, and winners will be announced on or before December 10.
Murray, who was also named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), is one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award. He leads the Sooners in tackles (55) and tackles for loss (7.5) while accounting for 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and three QB hurries.
The junior from Missouri City, Texas, was named a first-team midseason All-American by ESPN and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying five tackles (with 2.0 TFLs and a sack) against Texas. He was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week after the season-opening win over Houston when he finished with 13 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one pass breakup and a QB hurry. He also notched nine tackles and a sack against Texas Tech and recorded nine stops (six solo) and 1.5 TFLs against West Virginia.
A starter in all 36 games the last three seasons, Murray is looking to earn OU's fifth Butkus Award. He would join Brian Bosworth (1985 and '86), Rocky Calmus (2001) and Teddy Lehman (2003).
Selection is handled by a panel of 51 coaches, recruiters, scouts and journalists who vote separately and confidentially using a 3-2-1 process, with a write-in option offered. Selectors and selection criteria are posted at www.thebutkusaward.com. Finalists will be announced Nov. 25, and winners will be announced on or before December 10.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballBrent Venables Postgame vs Alabama
Friday, December 19
Ben Arbuckle Postgame vs Alabama
Friday, December 19
R Mason Thomas Postgame vs Alabama
Friday, December 19
John Mateer Postgame vs Alabama
Friday, December 19
