Butkus goes to LSU LB
LSU’s Devin White is the Butkus Award winner as the best linebacker in the country.
The winner was announced Wednesday. White is the first LSU player to win the award in its 34-year history and the third straight winner from a Southeastern Conference school. Roquan Smith of Georgia won it last season and Reuben Foster of Alabama was the winner in 2016.
White, a junior, led the Tigers this season with 115 total tackles, including 12 for loss. He also had three sacks, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. LSU (9-3) will play Central Florida (12-0) in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Kentucky’s Josh Allen finished second in the voting, followed by Michigan’s Devin Bush, Alabama’s Dylan Moses and Clemson’s Tre Lamar.
Hawkeye is top TE
Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson is the Mackey Award winner as the best tight end in the country.
The winner was announced Wednesday. Hockenson is the first sophomore to win the award in its 19-year history and the second player from Iowa, joining Dallas Clark (2002).
The other finalists were Missouri’s Albert Okwuegbunam and Stanford’s Kaden Smith.
Hockenson had 46 catches for 717 yards and six touchdowns this season for the Hawkeyes (8-4),.
SEC honors given
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — SEC coaches have named Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen as offensive and defensive players of the year.
Kentucky’s Mark Stoops is the SEC coach of the year in voting by league coaches announced Wednesday.
Texas A&M’s Braden Mann is the pick as top special teams player, and Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle is freshman of the year.
Alabama players also received two other awards. Tight end Hale Hentges is scholar-athlete of the year and left tackle Jonah Williams received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.
Tagovailoa is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be announced Saturday night in New York City, and led Alabama into the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide will take on Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl national semifinal on Dec. 29.
Allen won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player.
Odom’s new deal
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri football coach Barry Odom’s contract has been extended, and he’s getting a $600,000 raise.
On Wednesday, members of the University of Missouri Board of Curators voted unanimously in favor of extending Odom’s contract another two years.
The raise will bring his salary up to more than $3 million a year. He’ll also get an enhanced incentive package of more than $1.8 million for players’ academic and athletic performances.
Odom has a 19-18 record in three seasons at Missouri. The Tigers are 8-4 this season and made it to bowl games this year and last. They’ll face Oklahoma State (6-6) in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31.
Kingsbury lands
LOS ANGELES — Former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury has agreed to become Clay Helton’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Southern California.
USC announced the hire Wednesday.
Kingsbury is considered one of the top offensive minds in football despite being fired by Texas Tech on Nov. 25. He went 35-40 in six seasons in charge of his alma mater, but the Red Raiders consistently had one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses.
He replaces offensive coordinator Tee Martin.