Al-Uqdah Tabbed To Butkus Award Watch List
July 30, 2025 | Football
SEATTLE – Washington junior linebacker Taariq "Buddah" Al-Uqdah is one of 51 players named to the Butkus Award watch list, the Butkus Foundation announced today.
Al-Uqdah is one of 10 Big Ten linebackers on the watch list that is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Last season at Washington State, he was named the conference's top defensive performer starting in all 12 games and leading the team with 76 tackles. He had a career-high 12 tackles against New Mexico in 2024. In his career, Al-Uqdah has totaled 116, seven tackles for loss, four pass breakups and four interceptions.
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. 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. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process.
Semifinalists for the award will be named November 4 and finalists will be named November 25. The winner will be revealed by December 10. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in early 2026.
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award – Jonah Coleman, Demond Williams Jr.
Butkus Award – Taariq "Buddah" Al-Uqdah
Al-Uqdah is one of 10 Big Ten linebackers on the watch list that is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Last season at Washington State, he was named the conference's top defensive performer starting in all 12 games and leading the team with 76 tackles. He had a career-high 12 tackles against New Mexico in 2024. In his career, Al-Uqdah has totaled 116, seven tackles for loss, four pass breakups and four interceptions.
Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. 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. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process.
Semifinalists for the award will be named November 4 and finalists will be named November 25. The winner will be revealed by December 10. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in early 2026.
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award – Jonah Coleman, Demond Williams Jr.
Butkus Award – Taariq "Buddah" Al-Uqdah
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