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Ole Miss Football: More Rebels Named to National Watchlists

By Daniel Skipper

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 16: Jerrion Ealy #9 of the Mississippi Rebels runs with the ball during a game against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 16: Jerrion Ealy #9 of the Mississippi Rebels runs with the ball during a game against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – OCTOBER 05: Lakia Henry #1 of the Mississippi Rebels in action during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – OCTOBER 05: Lakia Henry #1 of the Mississippi Rebels in action during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Could Be Dominant

The Butkus Award watchlist selection of senior linebacker Lakia Henry really shouldn’t come as a surprise for Ole Miss football fans. Henry, out of Dodge City Community College, had a good 2019 season considering it was his first year in Division I football. Henry is a very fast, very aggressive and hard-hitting linebacker who has an outstanding vision in the field.

Lakia Henry is going to be close to the play and usually makes the hit. In 2019 Henry started 12 games and had 88 total tackles with 45 solo tackles. Henry also had 3.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Henry plays all over the field and should have a great 2020 season. Apparently the Butkus Award watchlist committee thinks so as well.

The Butkus Award is presented to the nation’s best linebacker and named after Dick Butkus who had an incredible football career. Butkus, known as a vicious hitter and tackler, was known as the most fierce linebacker in the NFL even after his outstanding career. According to John ‘Moon’ Mullen,

"“Dick was an animal. I called him a maniac. A stone maniac. He was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.” ~Deacon Jones, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end"

Dick Butkus, who played college football at Illinois, was a two-time consensus All-American. Butkus was drafted as the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears where he would play from 1965 thru 1973. While at Chicago Butkus would be an eight-time Pro Bowl selection with six years as a Pro Bowl First Team selection.

Butkus was selected as NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1969 and 1970 and was a selection for both the 1960s and 1970s NFL All-Decade Teams. Butkus was also selected as part of both the 75th and 100th NFL Anniversary All-Time Teams. Butkus was credited with 22 interceptions and 27 fumble recoveries during his NFL career. Butkus was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

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