Ohio State linebackers Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan both made the cut-down to 12 semifinalists nationally for the Butkus Award, it was revealed Monday morning.Talk about a contested field, Alabama also has two players still in the running, Ryan Anderson and Reuben Foster.The finalists will be named on Nov.21 with the winner announced Dec.6.Baker wasn’t even a starter when the season began. The sophomore from Cleveland (Benedictine) stepped in for Dante Booker who suffered a knee sprain in the season opener and has been on the mend since.Baker, meanwhile, is third on Ohio State in tackles with 48, including six for loss, and had a 68-yarrd interception return for a touchdown in the win at Oklahoma.McMillan, a junior captain, won the high school version of the Butkus in 2013 while at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga. He leads the team in tackles with 51.The Butkus semifinalists:Ryan Anderson, AlabamaJerome Baker, Ohio StateKendall Beckwith, LSUJack Cichy, WisconsinZach Cunningham, VanderbiltJarrad Davis, FloridaReuben Foster, AlabamaMalik Jefferson, TexasJosey Jewell, IowaMicah Kiser, VirginiaRaekwon McMillan, Ohio StateAzeem Victor, Washingtontmay@dispatch.com@TIM_MAYsports
Continue Reading: Ohio State football | Jerome Baker, Raekwon McMillan still in running for Butkus Award
