Jefferson makes Butkus watch list
For the second consecutive year, Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson is on the watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.
The junior is already on the Bednarik and Nagurski award watch lists.
Jefferson, a former 5-star recruit from Mesquite Poteet High School, had 62 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season. As a freshman in 2015 he was named a Freshman All-American and Big 12 defensive freshman of the year. He has 123 career tackles at Texas and 15.5 sacks.
ACC: Florida State is the preseason pick to win the Atlantic Coast Conference and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville is the preseason player of the year. The ACC announced voting results Monday following a poll of 167 media mem- bers who attended last week’s media days in Charlotte.
The Seminoles were picked as ACC champions on 118 bal- lots while reigning national champion Clemson received 35 votes. Florida State also was picked as the Atlantic Division favorite. Miami was the top choice in the Coastal.
Florida: Wide receiver Antonio Callaway pleaded no contest to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors dropped a marijuana possession charge as part of Monday’s plea deal, which State Attorney Bill Cervone said was standard for cases involving small amounts of drugs. Callaway also was fined $301.
Callaway, the team’s top playmaker, was cited on May 13 in Gainesville. He was a passenger in a SUV that offi- cers pulled over for a seatbelt violation. Police said officers smelled marijuana in the SUV and found 7 grams of the drug in Callaway’s pocket.
Callaway is entering his junior season. In two years, he has 89 catches for 1,399 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He was suspended last spring amid sexual battery allegations. In court docu- ments, Callaway admitted smoking marijuana, though he was eventually cleared of the battery allegation by a Title IX investigation.
Florida coach Jim McElwain hasn’t said whether Callaway will be suspended for the season opener against Michigan.