Wisconsin LB Leo Chenal named finalist for a prestigious award

The Badger linebacker is earning well-deserved national recognition

After putting together a phenomenal 2021 campaign, Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal is up for the most prestigious award at his position group.

The Badger junior has been named a finalist for the Butkus Award, an annual award honoring the nation’s best linebacker. The Granstburg, Wisconsin native currently has 43 solo tackles, 5 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles through seven games played.

The award is named for Dick Butkus, one of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game. Butkus starred at Illinois before headlining the Chicago Bears’ defense from 1965 to 1973.

Chenal will try to become the first Big Ten winner of the award since 2007, when then Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis took home the hardware.