Baltimore Ravens star Roquan Smith received the Butkus Award as the NFL’s best linebacker in 2022.
He became the fourth player to win the award in college and the pros, joining Patrick Willis, Von Miller and Luke Kuechly.
Smith was named the nation’s top collegiate linebacker at Georgia in 2017.
Butkus’ son, Matt, presented the trophy to Smith at the Ravens’ facilities on Wednesday.
“I’m very grateful to receive this,” Smith said. “Receiving it in college meant a lot to me, being recognized as the best. I have a great deal of respect for your dad and the way he played the game. I try to [mirror] some of that in my play. This means a lot to me and I can’t wait to put it up in my man cave.”
Roquan Smith has become the fourth player to ever win the Butkus Award as both a college and professional athlete??
The award is given annually to the top linebacker in high school, college and the pros.
?? : https://t.co/NuoVV0IF6J pic.twitter.com/pjgMDTYwgm— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 18, 2023
Smith, 25, was acquired by the Ravens in an Oct. 31 trade with the Chicago Bears. He recorded 86 tackles, two sacks and one interception in nine games with the Ravens.
Earlier this month, he reached agreement on a five-year, $100 million extension with Baltimore. The Ravens’ season ended Sunday with a wild-card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Including eight games with the Bears, Smith finished the 2022 season with a career-high 169 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three interceptions.
Smith has 18.5 sacks, 54 tackles for loss and eight interceptions in 78 games (76 starts) since Chicago drafted him eighth overall in 2018.
–Field Level Media