I didn't know this until yesterday, but apparently Dick Butkus has an award called The Butkus Award. Prior to the 2008 season, this was strictly a college award. The award apparently honors "athletics achievement and service to the community." The award has gone to college linebackers since 1985 (Brian Bosworth won the first two). Beginning in 2008 they started giving the award to a high school linebacker and an NFL linebacker as well. The 2008 winner was DeMarcus Ware.
This year, our very own Patrick Willis took home the award receiving 12 first place votes and 50 total points. We have a list of voters after the jump, but I don't really know how the points are broken down. The panel includes scouts, coaches, and journalists. I don't think the victory was unanimous or overwhelming, but a win is a win. DeMarcus Ware finished 2nd with 6 first place votes and 39 total points. Bamm Bamm also won the college version of the award in 2006. Rolando McClain won the college version this year.
Willis is clearly an awesome linebacker. If he's not the best inside linebacker in the NFL, he's pretty close. We've gone down the stats ad nauseum so there is nothing new on that front. He's an athletics and statistical freak.
However, I thought it'd be fun to ponder just where his career is headed. At his current pace, Bamm Bamm is going to be a Hall-of-Famer. The question becomes how high up the summit will he go? In 2019, nine years away, the NFL will likely be releasing their 100th anniversary team (the 75th team was announced in 1994). At that point, Willis will have been in the NFL 12. If he stays healthy, will we be a 12-time Pro Bowler? An 8-10 time All Pro? Throw in some gaudy stats and I know most 49ers fans would vote for him.
In briefly looking at Wikipedia's list of the 75th anniversary team, the linebackers are Dick Butkus, Jack Ham, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert, Willie Lanier, Ray Nitschke, and Lawrence Taylor. There have been some great linebackers since 1994, so the competition will be stiff. Will we see Bamm Bamm on the list at the end of the decade?
| Jerry | Angelo | General Manager | Chicago Bears |
| Hub | Arkush | Publisher/editor | Pro Football Weekly |
| Trent | Baalke | Director of Player Personnel | San Francisco 49ers |
| Pete | Carroll | Head coach | USC |
| Charley | Casserly | NFL insider | CBS |
| Tom | Ciskowski | Director of College and Pro Scouting | Dallas Cowboys |
| Joey | Clinkscales | Vice President, College Scouting | New York Jets |
| Bobby | DePaul | Senior director of pro personnel | Chicago Bears |
| Billy | Devaney | Executive VP Player Personnel | St. Louis Rams |
| Tom | Dienhart | Senior Writer | Rivals |
| Tom | Dimitroff | General Manager | Atlanta Falcons |
| John | Dorsey | Director of College Scouting | Green Bay Packers |
| Kirk | Ferentz | Head coach | University of Iowa |
| Pete | Fiutak | Publisher/editor | College Football News |
| Pat | Fitzgerald | Head coach | Northwestern University |
| Leslie | Frazier | Defensive Coordinator | Minnesota Vikings |
| Mike | Giddings | President | Pro Scout |
| Don | Gregory | Director of College Scouting | Carolina Panthers |
| Ryan | Grigson | Director of College Scouting | Philadelphia Eagles |
| John | Harbaugh | Head coach | Baltimore Ravens |
| Kirk | Herbstreit | College football analyst | ESPN |
| Tom | Lemming | Publisher | Prep Football Report |
| Greg | Manusky | Defensive Coordinator | San Francisco 49ers |
| Martin | Mayhew | General Manager | Detroit Lions |
| Mike | Mayock | Draft analyst | NFL Network |
| T.J. | McCreight | Director of Player Personnel |
Arizona Cardinals |
| Tom | Modrak | Vice President of College Scouting | Buffalo Bills |
| Nolan | Nawrocki | Senior editor | Pro Football Weekly |
| Scott | Pioli | General Manager |
Kansas City Chiefs |
| Ron | Rivera | Linebackers Coach | San Diego Chargers |
| Rich | Rodriguez | Head Coach |
University of Michigan |
| Marc | Ross | Director of College Scouting | New York Giants |
| Matt | Russell | Director of Scouting / Former Butkus Winner |
Denver Broncos |
| Rob | Ryan | Defensive Coordinator |
Cleveland Browns |
| Nick | Saban | Head Coach | University of Alabama |
| Randy | Shannon | Head Coach | University of Miami |
| Mike | Singletary | Head Coach | San Francisco 49ers |
| Rick | Smith | General Manager | Houston Texans |
| Gene | Smith | General Manager |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
| A.J. | Smith | General Manager | San Diego Chargers |
| Steve | Spanguolo | Head Coach |
St. Louis Rams |
| Scott | Studwell | Director of College Scouting | Minnesota Vikings |
| Tom | Telesco | Director of Player Personnel | Indianapolis Colts |
| Duke | Tobin | Director of player personnel | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Lional | Vital | Asst. Director of Player Personnel | Atlanta Falcons |
| Dave | Wannstedt | Head Coach | University of Pittsburgh |
| Ruston | Webster | Vice President of Player Personnel | Seattle Seahawks |
| Brian | Xanders | General Manager | Denver Broncos |