It’s been a good couple of days for UB standout LB Khalil Mack.
First, he was named Mid-American Conference East Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a win over Kent State.
Mack tied for the game high with 10 tackles (eight solo) and added a sack and an interception against Kent State. He made his biggest defensive play late in the half that changed the complexion of the game. With the Bulls leading 13-7, and Kent State in the Buffalo redzone, Mack made a one-handed interception at the 10-yard line and returned it to the Kent State 45-yard line. Four plays later, Buffalo scored a touchdown with just nine seconds left in the half to take a 20-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. Mack’s sack in the third quarter was the 25 of his career, giving him the all-time school record.
Then he showed up on list of semi-finalists for the Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker. Recent winners of the Butkus Award include Manti Te’o, Luke Kuechly, Von Miller, and Patrick Willis. See the full list here. Finalists will be announced on November 26 with the winner named on December 10.
2013 Butkus Award Semi-Finalists:
- Anthony Barr, UCLA
- Lamin Barrow, LSU
- Chris Borland, Wisconsin
- Khairi Fortt, California
- Khalil Mack, Buffalo
- C.J. Mosley, Alabama
- Denzel Perryman, Miami (Fla.)
- Trevor Reilly, Utah
- Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
- Shayne Skov, Stanford
- Yawin Smallwood, Connecticut
- Kyle Van Noy, BYU
Additionally, Mack makes the cut for the Bednarik Award, honoring the nation’s top defensive player. The most recent winners of the Bednarik Award have been Te’o, Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, and Ndamukong Suh. View the full list here. Three finalists will be announced on November 25. After a second round of voting, the winner will be announced during ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12.
2013 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists:
- LB Anthony Barr, UCLA
- DE Vic Beasley, Clemson
- LB Chris Borland, Wisconsin
- DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
- CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
- CB Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech
- DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
- CB Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State
- LB Khalil Mack, Buffalo
- LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama
- LB Trent Murphy, Stanford
- DE Michael Sam, Missouri
- LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
- LB Kyle Van Noy, BYU
- DT Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest
- DE Leonard Williams, USC
The most recent winners of the Bednarik Award have been Te’o, Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, and Ndamukong Suh. View the full list here. Three finalists will be announced on November 25. After a second round of voting, the winner will be announced during ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12.
Mack currently sits at number 16 on Mel Kiper’s “Big Board.” He and the Bulls return to action on Tuesday, November 5, hosting the Ohio Bobcats in a prime-time game on ESPN2.
