Denzel Perryman named finalist for Butkus Award

Hurricanes linebacker has started 24 consecutive games, leads team in tackles

CORAL GABLES, Fla.Miami senior linebacker Denzel Perryman is a finalist for the Butkus Award.

Perryman was one of five players named to the finalists list Monday.

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He receives the recognition after a 15-tackle performance in a loss at Virginia last weekend.

Perryman's 15 tackles tied a career-high, and his 13 solo tackles were also a career high.

The Coral Gables High School graduate has started 24 consecutive games for the Hurricanes and is the team's leading tackler (26). He also ranks first in solo tackles (71) and assists (25).

The Butkus Award honors the nation's top college linebacker. Perryman joins UCLA's Eric Kendricks, Washington's Hau'oli Kikaha, Michigan's Jake Ryan and Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith.

If Perryman were to win, he would join Dan Morgan in 2000 as the second Miami linebacker to win the award.

The winner will be announced Dec. 9.

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