UNC Football: Chazz Surratt named to Butkus Award Watch List

Another preseason honor for UNC Football linebacker Chazz Surratt as he enters his final season with the program

UNC Football linebacker Chazz Surratt is racking up the preseason recognition not only from the local media but the national media as well.

Last week Surratt was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list which recognizes the top defensive player in all of college football. Now he’s following that up with being named to another watch list.

On Monday, Surratt was one of 51 linebackers named to the Butkus Award Preseason Watch List, an award that honors the top linebacker in all of college football. The 51 preseason selections are to honor former University of Illinois and Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus.

Surratt had a fantastic season in 2019 for the Tar Heels in just his first season as a linebacker as he spent his first two years as a quarterback for UNC.  He led the Tar Heels with 15.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks and 10 QB hurries and was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 115 total tackles.

After a fantastic season, Surratt announced he was going to return for another season in Chapel Hill rather than enter the NFL Draft. Going into this season, Surratt’s stock is on the rise as some have him as high as a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft as a prospect.

The Butkus Award will cut their list to semi-finalists in November, then finalists later that month before announcing the winner of the award on December 8th.

For more on Surratt and the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.