CHICAGO – Entering his first season as a Boilermaker, senior linebacker Mani Powell has been named to the Butkus Award Watch List ahead of the 2025 campaign (July 30). With the Butkus Award honoring the nation’s top linebacker each season, the 51-player list pays tribute to Dick Butkus' iconic No. 51 jersey, worn during his legendary Hall of Fame career.
Powell is one of 12 Big Ten linebackers on the watch list. Despite being one of the newest Boilermakers, he is a college football veteran having played in 35 games over the past three seasons. Powell appeared in all 14 games at UNLV last year, while making seven starts and recording 59 tackles for Barry Odom’s Rebels. He also added 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks, helping lead a defense that ranked 23rd nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (115). The Columbus, Ohio, native made a career-high 10 tackles in an overtime thriller at Syracuse.
Following the 2024 season, Powell joined Odom in making the move from Las Vegas to West Lafayette. It was not the first time Powell reunited with his coach. After playing in 21 games during the first two seasons of his career at Arkansas, including his 2022 freshman campaign when Odom was the Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator, Powell headed west to play for Odom at UNLV.
Butkus Award semifinalists will be named November 4, finalists will be selected November 25, and the winner will be revealed by December 10. The 51-member selection committee, comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists, evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Butkus' career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
Powell and the rest of the Boilermakers begin fall camp tomorrow morning (July 31), preparing for the season opener that is one month away. Purdue kicks off the 2025 season at home against Ball State (Aug. 30). The in-state matchup is set for noon on BTN.