CHICAGO, Ill. – Old Dominion University senior linebacker TJ Ricks was named to the Butkus Award Watch List, given to the best linebacker in the nation.
Ricks was named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List last week given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.
He led Conference USA in tackles last season with an ODU single-season record of 123 and finished 11th in the FBS with 10.2 tackles per game. He also added 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception. He notched six double-digit tackle games and registered a single-game ODU record with 18 tackles against Charlotte.