University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Avery On Butkus Award Watch List
Jul 17, 2017 | Football
Tigers linebacker receives second preseason recognition.
CHICAGO, Ill. – For the second time in four days, University of Memphis' Genard Avery has been named to a 2017 preseason watch list. The Tigers senior linebacker was one of 51 players from across the nation to be selected to the Butkus Award watch list, the Butkus Foundation announced Monday.
The Butkus Award, first awarded in 1985, annually honors college football's top linebacker. Avery is one of three players from the American Athletic Conference on the prestigious preseason watch list, joining UCF's Shaquem Griffin and Navy's D.J. Palmore.
Last Thursday (July 13), Avery's name appeared on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
In 2016, Avery was an All-American Athletic Conference first team honoree after leading Memphis in TFL (11-59 yards), sacks (5), and quarterback hurries (6). He was second on the squad with 81 total tackles (63 solo/18 assists) and recorded five or more total hits in 11 of 13 games last season. Avery had a season-high nine total hits twice in contests versus Ole Miss and Temple.
The Grenada, Miss., native also tied for team-high honors with two interceptions, one each in home wins over Bowling Green and Temple. He returned both picks for touchdowns. Avery's interception return for a score late in the third quarter versus Temple gave the Tigers their first lead of game and turned the game's momentum to the home team.
In addition to his all-league honor, Avery was named the team's John Bramlett Defensive Player of the Year following the 2016 season.
Avery enters the 2017 campaign with 152 total tackles (118 solo/34 assists). For his career, he also had 23.5 TFL and 13 sacks.
Avery (Bronko Nagurski, Butkus) is one of six Tigers to be named to a 2017 preseason watch list. Other Memphis preseason watch list candidates are: quarterback Riley Ferguson (Maxwell Award), offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn (Outland Trophy), center Drew Kyser (Rimington Trophy), running back/kick return Tony Pollard (Hornung Award) and punter Spencer Smith (Ray Guy Award). Smith also earned a nomination for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels (high school, college, professional) while helping spread the word about Butkus'Â "I Play Clean" initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
The Butkus Award is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, and is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
Memphis is rolling towards the opening of the 2017 preseason camp. The team reports to campus July 27, with the first day of practice scheduled the following day.
The Tigers open their 2017 season with a special Labor Day weekend/Thursday night game against Louisiana-Monroe Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis' season opener is the first of seven home games for the 2017 campaign. Season tickets are on sale now, beginning at $130 (or $115 for TSF members at the $100 donor level) for all seven home games. Tickets and season parking passes can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGo.com/Footballtickets.
The Butkus Award, first awarded in 1985, annually honors college football's top linebacker. Avery is one of three players from the American Athletic Conference on the prestigious preseason watch list, joining UCF's Shaquem Griffin and Navy's D.J. Palmore.
Last Thursday (July 13), Avery's name appeared on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
In 2016, Avery was an All-American Athletic Conference first team honoree after leading Memphis in TFL (11-59 yards), sacks (5), and quarterback hurries (6). He was second on the squad with 81 total tackles (63 solo/18 assists) and recorded five or more total hits in 11 of 13 games last season. Avery had a season-high nine total hits twice in contests versus Ole Miss and Temple.
The Grenada, Miss., native also tied for team-high honors with two interceptions, one each in home wins over Bowling Green and Temple. He returned both picks for touchdowns. Avery's interception return for a score late in the third quarter versus Temple gave the Tigers their first lead of game and turned the game's momentum to the home team.
In addition to his all-league honor, Avery was named the team's John Bramlett Defensive Player of the Year following the 2016 season.
Avery enters the 2017 campaign with 152 total tackles (118 solo/34 assists). For his career, he also had 23.5 TFL and 13 sacks.
Avery (Bronko Nagurski, Butkus) is one of six Tigers to be named to a 2017 preseason watch list. Other Memphis preseason watch list candidates are: quarterback Riley Ferguson (Maxwell Award), offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn (Outland Trophy), center Drew Kyser (Rimington Trophy), running back/kick return Tony Pollard (Hornung Award) and punter Spencer Smith (Ray Guy Award). Smith also earned a nomination for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels (high school, college, professional) while helping spread the word about Butkus'Â "I Play Clean" initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
The Butkus Award is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, and is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
Memphis is rolling towards the opening of the 2017 preseason camp. The team reports to campus July 27, with the first day of practice scheduled the following day.
The Tigers open their 2017 season with a special Labor Day weekend/Thursday night game against Louisiana-Monroe Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis' season opener is the first of seven home games for the 2017 campaign. Season tickets are on sale now, beginning at $130 (or $115 for TSF members at the $100 donor level) for all seven home games. Tickets and season parking passes can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGo.com/Footballtickets.
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