Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser on the Butkus Award watch list

Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser has been placed on a watch list.

No, not that kind of watch list — this one’s a good one. Kiser is on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award , which is given out each year to the nation’s best linebackers at the high school, college and professional levels.

This means that Kiser, a graduate senior entering his sixth season, is a strong bet to win the award, which is named after the late Dick Butkus. Butkus, who starred at Illinois and later with the Chicago Bears in the NFL, is considered to be one of the best linebackers of all-time.

At the very least, Kiser should be in strong consideration for the award, barring injury.

He had 62 total tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception in 2023. Forty-one of those tackles were solo.

Kiser also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2021.

Kiser figures to be a key part of the Irish defense is 2024, and if he’s ultimately the award winner, that should mean that Notre Dame’s defense did big things.

Such as perhaps working towards to a College Football Playoff push.

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