A.J. Johnson Named To Butkus & Lombardi Watch Lists

Tennessee Volunteers senior linebacker A.J. Johnson continued to rack up the pre-season honors on Monday when he was named to the Butkus and Lombardi Award watch lists.

#Vols LB @aj_thebeast_45 on @butkusaward (3rd time) & @LombardiAward (2nd time) Watch Lists! http://t.co/6V97sH2UkE pic.twitter.com/QpdlzqRhwF
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 14, 2014

The Butkus Award is given annually to the top collegiate linebacker while the Lombardi Award is given annually to the top collegiate lineman or linebacker.

No Tennessee player has ever won the award.

Johnson should be in line for another solid year with the Vols. The Florida native passed up an opportunity to be drafted this season and instead opted to play another year for Butch Jones.

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The talented linebacker led the Vols in tackles the past two seasons and there’s no reason to expect any less this season.

The Vols’ defense has been a major weak point the past couple of seasons, but the one constant has been A.J. Johnson.

If Tennessee is able to make a bowl game in 2014, for the first time since 2010, it will have a lot to do with the efforts of A.J. Johnson.

A.J. Johnson named to Nagusrski Award watch list

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