Owusu-Koramoah Selected As Semifinalist for Butkus Award

Owusu-Koramoah Selected As Semifinalist for Butkus Award

NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Notre Dame senior linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which honors the top linebacker in college football. Sixteen semifinalists were selected, with three from the ACC.

Owusu-Koramoah, a preseason All-ACC First Team selection, has totaled 44 tackles this season, which ranks second on Notre Dame’s defense, while he leads the team with 8.5 tackles-for-loss. He has been responsible for forcing multiple turnovers, including an interception, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and two forced fumbles this season.

His first-career interception came at Pitt, setting up a Notre Dame touchdown drive. In the win over then-No. 1 Clemson, Owusu-Koramoah posted nine tackles (seven solo), 0.5 sack, 2.0 TFL, one forced fumble and the fumble recovery touchdown, which was the first score of his career. Three plays later, he forced a Clemson fumble, which was also recovered by the Irish.

For his performance against Clemson, he was named Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award Player of the Week, as well as ACC Linebacker of the Week. At Pitt, he was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week. He has been tabbed for watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, in addition to the Butkus Award.

Owusu-Koramoah and the Irish will return to the field Saturday, December 5, to close out their home schedule as they welcome Syracuse (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC) to Notre Dame Stadium.