UNC Football: Cedric Gray A Butkus Award Semifinalist

Senior UNC Football Linebacker Cedric Gray has had a dominant 2023 college football season and has been named a Butkus Award Semifinalist.

There has been one constant among the UNC Football program over the years of climbing to build a successful program and team: Cedric Gray. Gray has been the leader of the defense for three seasons now, and in the last two, he has been a dominant force from sideline to sideline.

Gray’s performance this year has earned him a spot on the Butkus Award Semifinalist list.

Gray led all power-five players in 2022 with 144 total tackles. While his tackle number is lower than last year, his play and performance are arguably better. Gray is the quarterback of the defense and is responsible for making sure everyone is in the right place pre-snap. Doing that leads to other guys along the front seven getting more involved and making the tackles before the ball gets to the second level so that Gray doesn’t have to make those tackles.

Even so, this year, Gray has 85 total tackles with an increase in sacks this year. In 2022, he only had one sack, while in 2023, with still three regular season games to play, he has 4.5 sacks. Gray also has two forced fumbles and one interception this year.

He was named to the Butkus Award Watch List in the preseason. In total, 12 players were named as Butkus Award Semifinalists. The Butkus Award is given annually to the top linebacker in college football.

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