University of Georgia Athletics
October 28, 2026 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. --- Bulldog junior linebacker Chris Cole has been named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award given to the nation's top linebacker, according to a Butkus Foundation announcement Wednesday.
Cole, a native of Salem, Va., is one of 15 semifinalists and one of five players from the Southeastern Conference to advance.
This marks the Bulldogs' third consecutive year of having a semifinalist, including current Atlanta Falcon Jalon Walker winning the 2024 award. Georgia has had three all-time Butkus winners. Current Baltimore Raven Roquan Smith (2017) and current Las Vegas Raider Nakobe Dean (2021) also garnered the accolade for the Bulldogs.
Cole is second on the team with 40 stops this season, including a team-high 28 solo tackles. He leads the squad with 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and has recovered a pair of fumbles. A team captain already three times in 2026, Cole collected both of those loose balls during the 41-13 win over Oklahoma and took one 85 yards for a touchdown.
The No. 3 Bulldogs take on No. 17 Florida in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ABC will televise the annual neutral site matchup.
Cole, a native of Salem, Va., is one of 15 semifinalists and one of five players from the Southeastern Conference to advance.
This marks the Bulldogs' third consecutive year of having a semifinalist, including current Atlanta Falcon Jalon Walker winning the 2024 award. Georgia has had three all-time Butkus winners. Current Baltimore Raven Roquan Smith (2017) and current Las Vegas Raider Nakobe Dean (2021) also garnered the accolade for the Bulldogs.
Cole is second on the team with 40 stops this season, including a team-high 28 solo tackles. He leads the squad with 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and has recovered a pair of fumbles. A team captain already three times in 2026, Cole collected both of those loose balls during the 41-13 win over Oklahoma and took one 85 yards for a touchdown.
The No. 3 Bulldogs take on No. 17 Florida in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ABC will televise the annual neutral site matchup.
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