Last week, Ventrell Miller earned Preseason All-SEC Second Team.
Miller Earns Third Straight Butkus Award Watch List Honor
Monday, July 25, 2022 | Football
The award is handed out to the nation’s best center at the NFL, NCAA and high school levels.
CHICAGO - Gators linebacker Ventrell Miller earned his third straight Butkus Award Watch List honor, the Butkus Foundation announced Monday.
Miller returns after missing the majority last year due to injury. He has played in 38 career games for the Orange and Blue posting 166 tackles, 15 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and six pass breakups. The Lakeland, Fla. native also is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient and SEC Defensive Player of the Week. In his freshman season, he recorded an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown against Idaho for the ninth-longest in school history.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award honors the nation's best linebackers in the NFL, NCAA and high school level. Entering its 38th year, the award supports causes important to the Butkus family such as the Causes include Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs
The Butkus Award® is presented by the Butkus Foundation and selected by a 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists. The award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
The award semifinalists are expected to be named Oct. 31 with finalists to follow Nov. 21. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 7.
A complete list of all 51 players on the watch list can be found here.
2022 Florida Football Watch List
Florida Football Butkus Award History
Miller returns after missing the majority last year due to injury. He has played in 38 career games for the Orange and Blue posting 166 tackles, 15 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and six pass breakups. The Lakeland, Fla. native also is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient and SEC Defensive Player of the Week. In his freshman season, he recorded an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown against Idaho for the ninth-longest in school history.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award honors the nation's best linebackers in the NFL, NCAA and high school level. Entering its 38th year, the award supports causes important to the Butkus family such as the Causes include Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs
The Butkus Award® is presented by the Butkus Foundation and selected by a 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists. The award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
The award semifinalists are expected to be named Oct. 31 with finalists to follow Nov. 21. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 7.
A complete list of all 51 players on the watch list can be found here.
2022 Florida Football Watch List
| Award | Player |
|---|---|
| Maxwell Award | Anthony Richardson |
| Doak Walker Award | Nay'Quan Wright |
| Rimington Trophy | Kingsley Eguakun |
| Butkus Award | Ventrell Miller |
Florida Football Butkus Award History
| Year | Name (Result) |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Alonzo Johnson (Finalist) |
| 1991 | Tim Paulk (Finalist) |
| 1997 | Johnny Rutledge (Semifinalist) |
| 1998 | Jevon Kearse (Finalist) |
| 1998 | Johnny Rutledge (Semifinalist) |
| 2001 | Andra Davis (Semifinalist) |
| 2004 | Channing Crowder (Semifinalist) |
| 2006 | Brandon Siler (Semifinalist) |
| 2008 | Brandon Spikes (Finalist) |
| 2009 | Brandon Spikes (Finalist) |
| 2015 | Antonio Morrison (Finalist) |
| 2016 | Jarrad Davis (Finalist) |
Players Mentioned
Florida Football | Sean Kelley, Coach Sumrall, Coach Spurrier, and Coach Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Head Coach Jon Sumrall Sits Down with Gator Greats Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Urban Meyer & Nick Saban Interview | 2025 NFF Annual Awards Dinner
Wednesday, December 10
Coach Meyer and Coach Saban - Hall of Fame 12-09-25
Wednesday, December 10







