Carter & Smith Butkus Semi-Finalists

UGA Sports Communications

Georgia senior Lorenzo Carter and junior Roquan Smith are two of 15 players named as semifinalists for the 33rd Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.

The Dawg duo are two of the five players from the Southeastern Conference included on the list. Finalists will be announced on November 20 and winners will be announced on or before December 5.

Carter, a native of Norcross, is third on second-ranked Georgia with 30 stops, including 5.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading four sacks, from his outside linebacker spot. He has also recovered three fumbles, which leads the SEC and ranks second nationally, and forced two fumbles.

Smith, a native of Montezuma, is leading the 8-0 Dawgs with 61 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, from his inside linebacker spot. An Associated Press, Sporting News and ESPN Midseason All-American, Smith has also forced a fumble and anchored a unit that ranks third nationally in Scoring Defense (11.9 points/game) and Total Defense (252.1 yards/game).