By: Patrick Pierson
CHICAGO – Oregon junior linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia was one of 51 players named to the Butkus Award watch list on Monday. The Butkus Award honors the nation's best linebacker at the collegiate and high school levels.
Slade-Matautia started all 14 games at middle linebacker a season ago in Oregon's run to Pac-12 and Rose Bowl titles. He was one of just two linebackers nationally and the first in the Pac-12 since 2015 with 60 tackles and double-digit pass breakups. Slade-Matautia registered 64 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, and led the Ducks in pass breakups (11).